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SC PORTS EXPECTS CONTINUED RECOVERY IN VOLUMES FOR FY 2021
July 24, 2020
South Carolina Ports Authority reported that it finished the fiscal year 2020 with relatively steady volumes compared to the fiscal year 2019 despite impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
S.C. Ports finished the fiscal year, which ended June 30, with 2.32 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) handled at the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals, down 2.8% from the fiscal year 2019.
The port also moved 1.32 million pier containers, which measures the total number of boxes handled, in the fiscal year 2020, down 3.4% from the year prior.
"The first seven months of the fiscal year — from July through January — were very strong with S.C. Ports on track to achieve yet another record fiscal year until the pandemic hit, causing global disruption to supply chains and business operations," the South Carolina Ports Authority said in a statement.
From January to June, S.C. Ports had 58 blanked sailings, meaning a vessel does not arrive during its scheduled time or is rescheduled. S.C. Ports have had 14 additional blank sailings announced for July onward.
Modest growth in auto shipments
The Port of Charleston achieved modest growth for both vehicles and pier tons in the fiscal year 2020 compared to the fiscal year 2019. The Port handled also 640,929 pier tons, up 2.5% from the year prior.
The Port saw 199,825 vehicles roll across the docks of Columbus Street Terminal, an increase of 2.5% from the year prior. Vehicle volumes started to rebound in June after many automotive manufacturing plants resumed normal operations in May, it added.
Continued recovery
“The pandemic impacted businesses across the board and our volumes reflect that. We hope to see continued recovery as we begin fiscal year 2021,” said Jim Newsome, S.C. Ports president and CEO.
“We have an incredibly well-run port located in the thriving Southeast market. We plan to continue growing and diversifying our cargo base with retail goods imports and transload exports, such as forest products and agricultural goods,” he added.
