SCPA records strong growth in container volumes

The port authority has experienced an increase in container volumes, while inland ports have also shown promise, between the port authority breaking ground on Inland Port Dillon and increased rail moves at Inland Port Greer.    The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) reported nearly nine percent fiscal year-over-year container volumes growth through February.
   SCPA’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.
   The port authority’s total fiscal year-to-date container volumes reached nearly 1.4 million TEUs in February, up from 1.3 million TEUs for the corresponding period a year prior.
   Furthermore, SCPA handled almost 176,000 TEUS last month, an increase of 11.3 percent from February 2016.
   Last month was also the best February on record for the number of boxes handled, with SCPA moving over 98,000 containers, bringing fiscal year-to-date box handling volumes to 783,931 TEUs. 
   Non-containerized cargo volumes were strong last month, with 72,670 pier tons handled in Charleston. Breakbulk cargo is also 6.4 percent ahead of plan, with total fiscal year-to-date throughput at 552,244 pier tons for the period.
   Inland ports have shown promise, with Inland Port Greer handling 9,540 rail moves in February, driving the facility’s fiscal year-to-date rail volumes 25.8 percent higher than the same period a year prior. Additionally, SCPA announced success with breaking ground on Inland Port Dillon, which is slated for the first phase of completion in early 2018.