SCPA Posts Record November Container Throughput

The US South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) reported its strongest November container volumes on record, handling a total of 175,215 TEUs during the month.

Previously, SCPA’s strongest November on record was 163,121 TEUs handled in 2005.

Box volumes increased by 14 percent, compared to 153,594 TEUs recorded in November last year.

With 1.831,796 TEUs moved since January 2016, the port’s container volume is up 0.2 percent from 1.828,484 TEUs handled in the eleven-month period last year.

As measured in pier containers, or boxes handled, SCPA also broke previous November volume records by moving 99,041 boxes last month.

“The port had a record November of close to 100,000 pier containers with continued year-on-year growth in the loaded container segment and the resurgence of empty exports through calls by extra loader vessels. We are ahead of plan for the fiscal year 2017 but expect a seasonally modest December through February as lines adjust to slowing world trade and prepare for new alliance deployments. The South Carolina Inland Port Greer continued to handle near-record volumes as we prepare to build a second inland port in Dillon County, SC,” Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO, said.

SCPA’s non-containerized cargo volumes in Charleston exceeded fiscal year-to-date plans last month by 11 percent, while Charleston handled 66,953 pier tons of breakbulk cargo in November.

SCPA owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer. During the 2016 fiscal year ended June 30, SCPA handled 1.9 million TEUs, an increase of 1.4 percent over the 2015 fiscal year.