South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) has recorded its strongest fiscal year on record for containers handled at the Port of Charleston.
SC Ports handled 2.55 million TEU at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal, and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in fiscal year 2021, ending 30 June.
The throughput total marks a 9.6% increase from fiscal year 2020.
SC Ports moved 1.42 million pier containers, which measures containers of any size, in fiscal year 2021. This is up 7.7% from the prior fiscal year.
In addition to a record fiscal year, SC Ports had a record June for its container business segment.
SC Ports moved 231,758 TEU in June, which is up 48.1% compared to June 2020 and up 15.6% compared to June 2019.
The Port of Charleston handled 128,622 pier containers in June, a 44.5% increase from June 2020 and a 13.8% increase compared to June 2019.
SC Ports two rail-served inland ports set cargo records in fiscal year 2021, with a combined 192,844 rail moves recorded, up 11.7% from 2020.
Inland Port Greer moved 157,842 rail moves in fiscal year 2021, up 12.6%, while Inland Port Dillon had 35,002 rail moves, up nearly 7.9%.
SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome commented, “While the global pandemic has placed great strain on global supply chains, it has also highlighted how incredibly vital maritime, motor carrier and logistics workers are to the supply chain.
“They are keeping freight moving while handling unprecedented cargo increases. We owe them much gratitude for their hard work over the past year.”
Phase One of Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal began operations in March, marking the first greenfield container terminal to open in the US since 2009.
Leatherman Terminal adds a 1,400-foot berth and 700,000 TEU of capacity to the Port of Charleston.
SC Ports also kicked off an expansion at Inland Port Greer, further enhanced Wando Welch Terminal, and saw significant progress with the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, which will yield 52 feet of depth in 2022.
“We have planned our capacity well for the next decade and beyond with the infrastructure that we are delivering,” Newsome said.
“In fiscal year 2022, we will continue to invest in our port to provide more capacity and reliability for our customers as we grow above the market. We have the best team and maritime community to accomplish our goals in the year ahead.”
