According to SC Ports, customers benefit from expedited logistics at the Port of Charleston. “With the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast, ships can access port terminals any time, regardless of tide, allowing berths to remain fluid. South Carolina’s maritime community quickly works ships, averaging 33 crane moves per hour.”
SC Ports says its operations are designed to speed goods to market—customers can instantly access imports; trucks average 35-minute turn times; and nearby rail yards connect to two rail-served inland ports in the state and inland markets throughout the Southeast.
“SC Ports is a well-run port with highly productive operations,” said SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin. “We are proactively supporting our customers amid shifting policies and economic uncertainties.”
“South Carolina’s port industry is here to support our customers as they navigate market uncertainties and disruptions,” added SC Ports Chief Commercial Officer Byron Miller. “Customers can count on us to provide reliable port service and develop creative, flexible solutions. This ensures cargo flows efficiently between supplier and buyer, helping our customers meet their supply chain objectives.”
FY26 Infrastructure Investments
SC Ports’ Board of Directors approved on June 17 a $294 million capital plan for fiscal year 2026 to fund critical port infrastructure. The funding, SC Ports says, will support completing the Navy Base Intermodal Facility, expanding Leatherman Terminal with a second berth, and upgrading Columbus Street Terminal to enhance resiliency for ro-ro operations.
The Navy Base Intermodal Facility is already more than 80% complete, and once fully operational, the rail-served cargo yard will “swiftly move goods between the Port of Charleston and inland markets via CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS),” SC Ports noted.
“Regardless of short-term economic fluctuations, the port is a long-cycle business. We are investing today to have the capacity to support our customers for decades to come,” Melvin said. “South Carolina’s economy and population are thriving, and these strategic investments enable us to handle current cargo volumes, and the cargo that will flow from future investments and population growth in the Southeast.”
May Volumes
SC Ports handled 120,796 pier containers and 219,255 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), a 21% and 22% increase from last year, respectively. Loaded imports were up 19% from last May, and loaded exports were up 10% from a year ago.
Container volumes from February through May were “consistently stable or higher-than-expected, given the ongoing uncertainty in the market,” SC Ports reported.
Railed cargo remains solid. Inland Port Greer achieved a record May with 16,952 rail moves, representing 11% growth. Inland Port Dillon was right on par with last May, handling 3,856 rail moves.
The maritime community moved 13,062 vehicles across the docks, which is in line with last year’s volumes, according to SC Ports.
“Our South Carolina port team, broader maritime community, rail partners and logistics companies work together every day to support companies’ supply chains, ensuring we remain competitive as the No. 8 container port in the country,” Melvin said.
