CHARLESTON: SC -South Carolina Ports Authority reported nearly nine percent fiscal year-over-year container volume growth through February. SCPA’s total fiscal year-to-date container volume reached nearly 1.4 million TEUs last month, compared to 1.3 million TEUs handled during the same period last year. SCPA handled 175,820 twenty foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in February, an increase of 11.3 percent over February 2016. Last month was the best February on record for pier container volume, or boxes handled. SCPA moved 98,259 containers across its docks in February, bringing fiscal year-to-date pier container volume to 783,931 containers.
“Last month’s volumes reflect strong growth over last year, and we handled the highest pier container volume ever during a February,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “Looking ahead, spring is traditionally a busy season for us, but volumes may be inconsistent due to the implementation of new shipping alliances.” Non-containerized cargo volumes were strong last month, with 72,670 pier tons handled in Charleston. Total fiscal year-to-date breakbulk volume is 6.4 percent percent ahead of plan, with 552,244 pier tons handled during the period. Inland Port Greer handled 9,540 rail moves in February, driving the facility’s fiscal year-to-date rail volume 25.8 percent higher than the same period last year. Inland Port Greer has handled 73,205 rail moves since July.
SCPA broke ground on its newest facility in Dillon, South Carolina last Friday. Nearly 200 elected officials, business partners and customers attended the event to celebrate the significance of the project to the state’s infrastructure and economic development efforts. “The construction of a second SCPA inland port in Dillon is possible because of the convergence of several critical components,” Newsome said. “A cargo base in the area to serve as an anchor customer; an existing Class One Railroad; a willing community to support the project locally; and a dedicated team within the Port to move the project forward. Inland Port Greer surpassed our five-year volume projections in less than three years, and we look forward to similar success in Dillon.” Offering overnight access to and from the Port of Charleston via a CSX mainline, Inland Port Dillon will offer port users close proximity to markets along the I-95 corridor and enhanced rail access to customers throughout the Carolinas and into the Northeast and Midwest. The first phase of the project will open during the first quarter of 2018 and is expected to handle at least 45,000 containers annually.
