Exports drove up South Carolina port's container volume in November

The Port of Charleston in November handled 133,481 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up more than 6 percent year over year, according to the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA).

Export container volume — which has been strong throughout the year — climbed 12.5 percent in November, SCPA officials said in a press release.

"Shipments of agricultural products, particularly grain, were a significant driver of export gains," they said. "Agricultural exports alone have increased 16 percent since 2009, prompting [us] to add five transload operations in the last three years."

Exports are driving the port's growth well above the industry average, said SCPA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Newsome.

"I expect we will continue to see exports trending upward through the rest of the decade, ultimately balancing imports," he said.

The Port of Georgetown also registered volume gains in November, driven by domestic moves of bulk cement for the Northeastern construction industry, and import shipments of petroleum coke and steel billet for local manufacturers, SCPA officials said.