SC Ports: Infrastructure investments are supporting growth

The South Carolina Port Authority's ongoing investments in its cargo facilities and rail expansion efforts are showing up in cargo numbers. The SC Ports' rail-served Inland Port Greer is currently undergoing an expansion project, and construction on the Navy Base Intermodal Facility is underway.

The Port of Charleston, which is served daily by Norfolk Southern Railway, reported 5% more containerized cargo moving in November compared to last year. Container volumes for the 2025 fiscal year, which began July 1, have remained steady, up about 1% year over year. Inland Ports Greer and Dillon, meanwhile, handled a combined 17,735 rail moves in November, SC Ports officials said in a press release.

More than 9,000 feet of new rail has been placed at Inland Port Greer to accommodate longer trains, and the port’s container yard has been expanded enough to double its capacity. An expansion of the chassis yard and construction of new operations and maintenance buildings are underway and expected to be completed in late spring 2025, port officials said. SC Ports is also expanding rail capabilities at the Port of Charleston.

With $400 million in state funding, SC Ports is constructing the Navy Base Intermodal Facility on an 118-acre site in North Charleston near Leatherman Terminal. The facility will facilitate cargo moving between the Port of Charleston and inland ports and to key markets like Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville and Louisville.