Charleston volumes up 2.4% in December

   The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) said the Port of Charleston handled 109,472 TEUs last month, 2.4 percent more than the 106,866 TEUs handled in December 2010.
   Container volume for calendar year 2011 was 1.38 million TEUs, up 1.2 percent from 2010.
   “We are continuing to experience a flat economic environment here in the U.S.,” said Jim Newsome, president and chief executive officer of the port authority, in a statement. The port said industry analysts predict continued weakness in retail imports until spring while exports, particularly agricultural products, are expected to grow through 2012.
   Breakbulk pier tonnage in Charleston and Georgetown was up 26.8 percent in December and up 54.9 percent in calendar 2011 over 2010 figures.
   Cargo volumes were reported during a meeting during which the SCPA board approved projects totaling $5.2 million in capital improvements, including construction of a new, $3.05 million, 100,000-square-foot warehouse at the Columbus Street Terminal. This comes on the heels of major investments totaling $23 million to improve the terminal.
   Columbus Street Terminal serves the Port of Charleston’s non-container segment, handling cargoes such as BMWs manufactured in South Carolina.
   BMW announced last week that the facility located in Greer, S.C. will add the X4 car production while increasing the plant’s capacity to 300,000 vehicles annually. About 70 percent of the plant’s production last year was exported. — Chris Dupin