South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) has handled 201,418 TEU in February, reflecting an 11.1 per cent decrease from January this year.
This was the second highest February for volumes in port history despite the slight dip from January.
February is traditionally a lighter month due to a pause in Asian manufacturing for the Lunar New Year holiday, reported SC Ports.
SC Ports has thus far handled nearly 1.8 million TEU, reflecting a 5 per cent decrease from the same time a year prior.
According to SC Ports, a slowdown in consumer spending amid rising cost of goods has softened volumes overall, including loaded imports.
In February, loaded exports were up 12 per cent year-over-year at the Port of Charleston.
Inland Ports Greer and Dillon have maintained strong monthly volumes for the past three months, with the rail-served inland ports reporting a combined 16,198 rail moves in February.
Inland Port Dillon, which serves the Pee Dee region and beyond, had a record February by handling 3,664 rail moves.
SC Ports is further enhancing intermodal capabilities by expanding Inland Port Greer and building the dual-served Navy Base Intermodal Facility, which will provide near-dock rail to the Port of Charleston in 2025.
READ: SC Ports completes Inland Port Greer rail expansion
“We are making bold investments in port infrastructure to seamlessly handle imports and exports for companies,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said.
“By enhancing our intermodal capabilities, we will provide more rail connections to the Port of Charleston, further enhancing speed-to-market for goods and helping to attract future investment to our state.”
In February 2021, SC Ports received six new rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes as part of its latest equipment upgrades at the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal (HLT)
