South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) President and CEO Micah Mallace detailed his pledge for aggressive growth to a room of 1,100 port customers and stakeholders during his first State of the Port address.
Mallace, who was appointed to lead the port on 6 October, thanked his predecessors and elected leaders for laying the groundwork to allow the port to shift momentum away from long-cycle infrastructure towards strengthening its cargo base and prioritising opportunities for immediate growth.
Mallace said: “We are exceptionally fortunate to be in a position where our port’s terminals run exceedingly well and our infrastructure offers ample capacity for the foreseeable future. With these pieces in place, we enjoy the latitude to focus on growth in the immediate term.”
South Carolina’s workforce is reportedly growing four times faster than any other coastal Southeastern state, ensuring labour for new and growing businesses, and making the state ripe for new investments.
Companies invested $8.19 billion in new and existing businesses in South Carolina during the last year. Of that, port customers invested more than $786 million into new and expanding manufacturing facilities and distribution centres, adding 1,200 jobs and bringing new volume to the port’s inland and ocean terminals.
Mallace added: “Despite a drop-off in corporate decision-making this year, the South Carolina team was able to achieve strong economic development wins.”
READ: SC Ports inland ports break records as vehicle volumes rise
Ocean carriers also showed a vote of confidence in SC Ports’ capabilities within the Southeast market. The Port of Charleston grew its weekly services to 29 in 2025, including first-in-calls from key markets in Asia and Europe, and expanding coverage of the rapidly growing India market to six weekly services.
SC Ports outpaces the US market and other South Atlantic ports for growth in the Northeast Asia – US trade lane.
Post-Covid, the Port of Charleston’s volume has increased by 9 per cent in this trade lane, compared to a decline of 2 per cent at other regional ports.
Mallace acknowledged that while SC Ports enjoyed significant accomplishments in 2025, there are still challenges to navigate within the industry and at home. Although inland ports had strong growth, SC Ports saw tempered container volumes and stable growth in its 2025 fiscal year.
“As the three-year freight recession persists, spot rates are down, and volatility becomes the new normal, the port market will continue to have to operate in a challenging environment,” he said.
“We see the same challenges as our competitors, but we are not satisfied with 3 per cent year-over-year (YoY) growth in the container segment. There is work to be done, but there is also opportunity and cause for optimism.”
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As the US Southeast is projected to experience the largest population gains in the country by 2050, SC Ports has heavily invested in long-cycle infrastructure.
The Port of Charleston enjoys the deepest harbour on the US East Coast, has secured a path to 10 million TEUs at its marine terminals, and has invested to ensure its rail capabilities match the growth occurring in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast. With the necessary infrastructure in place, Mallace said immediate growth is the critical path forward.
As SC Ports shifts momentum towards immediate growth and revenue generation, Mallace laid out the port’s priorities and plans to deliver non-traditional growth initiatives.
The multi-year effort includes plans to use SC Ports’ real estate to facilitate growth projects for businesses, help to back projects with partners who generate growth, focus on revenue-generating infrastructure, and offer creative solutions and white-glove service to BCOs.
Mallace told shippers that SC Ports’ customer-centred approach extends beyond its terminals.
He stated: “We are here to help you solve your issues – whether it’s cost savings, improved cargo visibility, or tucking away inventory. Bring your challenges, hardest supply chains and most demanding freight to SC Ports. We will provide a consultative approach.”
Earlier this summer, SC Ports advanced on two major infrastructure projects at the Port of Charleston to boost rail capacity and expand operations at the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal.
