South Carolina ports logged record TEUs in 2019

South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) handled 2.44 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in calendar-year 2019, a 5 percent increase over 2018.

The 2019 TEU total resulted in the port authority achieving the best calendar year in its history, SCPA officials said last week in a press release.

South Carolina ports logged 1.38 million pier containers — as measured by the total number of boxes handled — in 2019 at the Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals.

Breakbulk cargo grew in 2019 with 725,828 pier tons handled, up nearly 10  percent from a year ago. The port also handled 225,191 vehicles, up 4 percent in 2019.

Meanwhile, Inland Port Greer and Inland Port Dillon also saw record breaking activity in 2019 with 190,539 combined rail moves, up 41 percent year-over-year, officials said.

“We enter 2020 with a great decade of growth behind us, during which we doubled our volumes, tripled our asset base and added more than 200 people to our team,” said SCPA President and Chief Executive Officer Newsome.