South Carolina ports set cargo record in May

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) logged its strongest May on record, with 204,457 20-foot-equivalent container units (TEUs) handled in the month, authority officials announced yesterday.

Fiscal year-to-date TEU volume through May was up 9.7 percent, with 2,192,689 TEUs handled since the fiscal year began July 1, 2018.

“Our volumes have been strong this fiscal year compared to fiscal 2018, particularly with [our] container business, rail dray program and inland port operations,” said SCPA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Newsome in a press release.

Authority officials expect the momentum to continue as SCPA’s ports wrap up the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

As measured in pier containers, or boxes handled, the authority moved a record 118,048 containers across the docks of the Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals in May, surpassing the previous May record of 113,531 pier containers set in 2018.

Fiscal year-to-date through May, pier container volume rose 10.2 percent to 1,251,247 boxes.

SCPA’s RapidRail dray program, which provides a seamless connection between the marine terminals and rail yards, has grown "significantly," authority officials said. The ports now handle nearly 25 percent of their volume by intermodal container rail, with 31,709 rail moves in May.