South Carolina ports log record cargo volume in September

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) logged a 12.5 percent increase in cargo volume last month, which marked the authority's best September on record.

SCPA handled nearly 195,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals in September, which contributed to a strong start to fiscal-year 2020, authority officials said in a press release.

For the first three months of FY2020, the port handled 638,600 TEUs, up 10 percent year over year. As measured by the total number of boxes handled, SCPA moved 110,025 pier containers in September, up 11.7 percent from the same month last year.

“Our fiscal year 2020 is off to a very strong start as we continue to handle record cargo volumes at our terminals,” said SCPA President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Newsome.

SCPA’s two inland ports continue to see strong growth year-over-year as manufacturers and retailers benefit from the inland operations and overnight rail connections to the Port of Charleston, authority officials said.

Inland Port Greer posted 12,473 rail moves last month, up 40 percent from a year ago. Norfolk Southern Railway serves the port.

Inland Port Dillon, now in its second year of operation, logged 2,451 rail moves in September, up nearly 33 percent from last year. CSX serves the port.