South Carolina Ports Report Stellar Increase in 2024 Volume Growth

South Carolina Ports Record Stellar Increase in 2024 Volume Growth

In a remarkable turn of events for South Carolina’s economy, an impressive 17% boost in loaded imports and robust intermodal cargo activities have driven a year-over-year container volume growth at South Carolina Ports. This significant rise marks the most considerable upsurge this year, shedding light on the increasing economic robustness and a burgeoning market.

Last month alone, the South Carolina Ports team and the maritime community managed a substantial 216,410 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking a 12% rise year-over-year. There was also an increase in pier containers, with a total of 118,481 containers marking an 11% growth from the previous year.

“The demand for cargo routing is high on the U.S. East Coast, and our strategic location in the thriving Southeast positions us well for long-term growth,” expressed Barbara Melvin, the President, and CEO of South Carolina Ports. She also highlighted that their services offer highly productive, capable, and reliable port service, reinforcing the trust of their customers.

Performance of Inland Ports

Inland Ports Greer and Dillon alone managed to move a combined 18,978 containers last March, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. The rail moves at Inland Port Greer saw an encouraging 22% year-over-year rise, with a total of 16,088 containers filled with goods for advanced manufacturers, solar panel makers, material producers, and retailers being handled.

Addressing these improvements, Melvin revealed that the expansions of Inland Port Greer will deliver higher capacity and enhance rail capabilities, thus enabling the swift movement of goods between the Port of Charleston and inland markets.

Automotive Sector Growth

In addition to the success in port and container movements, the automotive sector in South Carolina also saw positive changes. A total of 18,001 vehicles were moved in March, experiencing a 15% increase from the same period last year.

As the South Carolina economy continues to flourish, there are also investments in place for the modernization of terminals, expansion of cargo capacity, and the construction of the rail-served Navy Base Intermodal Facility. These actions aim to ensure excellent port service to the businesses that heavily rely on efficient port operations. “We strive to uphold our commitment to providing reliable and efficient port services to our clients,” Melvin said.

With its highly strategic location, South Carolina ports’ steady growth points to a bright future for the ports industry, offering significant advantages in terms of trade and economic development in the region.