South Carolina Ports Report Cargo Growth
South Carolina Ports Authority reported year-over-year growth during the first quarter of its 2017 fiscal year.
SCPA handled 162,858 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September. First quarter TEU volumes were up 1.4 percent over the same period last year, with 520,276 TEUs crossing SCPA docks from July to September.
As measured in pier containers, or box volume, SCPA moved 91,784 containers in September. Fiscal year to date, SCPA has handled 293,275 boxes at its North Charleston and Wando Welch container terminals.
"Loaded container volume, particularly on the import side, supported SCPA's growth for the first quarter of the fiscal year," said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome. "We also saw strong volumes on the breakbulk side of our business relative to plan, and Inland Port Greer achieved record volumes, providing a solid start to FY2017."
Non-containerized cargo volumes during the first quarter exceeded plan by 11.8 percent, with Charleston handling 217,533 breakbulk tons between July and September.
Rail volume at Inland Port Greer increased 18.6 percent during the first quarter, with 26,216 moves handled since July. In September the facility handled 9,521 rail moves, a record in monthly rail volume.