CHARLESTON, S.C. – South Carolina Ports had their best calendar year in history in 2021 as the S.C. Ports team and broader maritime community reported an unprecedented amount of cargo.
“2021 was a truly banner year for South Carolina Ports,” SC Ports CEO Jim Newsome said. “Amid tremendous and ongoing supply chain challenges, we handled record-breaking cargo volumes, while consistently providing capacity and fluidity for our customers. The strength of our port continues to be in the quality of our workforce and excellent maritime community.”
S.C. ports handled 2.75 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in 2021. This is a 19% increase from 2020 and a 13% increase from 2019.
S.C. Ports handled 1.53 million pier containers — which accounts for containers of any size — in 2021. This is an 18% increase from 2020 and an 11% increase from 2019.
Monthly year-over-year container records were set for 10 consecutive months in 2021, from March through December. SC Ports says much of the cargo growth stems from consumers buying more retail goods during the pandemic.
S.C. Ports handled 1.29 million loaded import TEUs in 2021, up 25% from the year prior. A significant uptick in retail imports — including furniture, home goods, appliances, clothing and electronics — drove much of this growth at the Port of Charleston.
“Big retailers continue to grow, increasing their need for a reliable partner in the supply chain,” said Newsome. “S.C. Ports provides capacity for retailers as record retail imports flow into the Port of Charleston. “By investing more than $2 billion in port infrastructure, S.C. Ports provides much-needed supply chain fluidity for customers.”
S.C. Ports’ two rail-served inland ports saw a busy year, with Inland Port Greer handling a record 160,234 rail moves, up 14% from 2020. Inland Port Dillon recorded 29,412 rail moves.
“In 2021, we hired more than 100 people in operations to support cargo growth and worked tirelessly to keep freight moving through the Southeast supply chain,” COO Barbara Melvin said.
For 2022, S.C. Ports plans to deploy 15 ship-to-shore cranes with 155 feet of lift height at Wando Welch Terminal; achieve full utilization of Phase One of Leatherman Terminal; complete the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project; begin construction on the rail-served Navy Base Intermodal Facility and inner-harbor barge project; and continue working on the Inland Port Greer expansion project.
