South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) reported that container volumes declined in May as economic challenges persisted, although other cargo business segments — including inland ports and vehicles — trended up during the month.

SC Ports handled 198,824 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and 110,834 pier containers in May.

"Container volumes are down about 22% year-over-year in response to a constricting economy," it said.

For the period, SC Ports noted that imports are down as people spend less on goods, while exports continue to trend up, with a 4% increase year-over-year. 

"Though the landscape has shifted since the pandemic-induced import boom, we remain competitive as a well-run port in the thriving Southeast market," said Barbara Melvin, president of SC Ports.

"As an owner-operator port, we are customer-focused and efficiently run. We have cargo capacity, a strong infrastructure network, available land for import distribution centres, and the deepest harbour on the East Coast to keep freight moving," she added.

Meanwhile, SC Ports said cargo business segments had a strong May.

SC Ports handled 20,026 vehicles for global automakers at Columbus Street Terminal in May, up 14% year-over-year.

SC Ports' two rail-served inland ports, which swiftly move cargo via rail between the Port of Charleston and inland markets, also continued to see strong volumes. 

It said that Inland Port Dillon had another record-breaking month, handling 4,415 rail moves in May, increasing 138% year-on-year, while Inland Port Greer also had a strong month, handling 14,931 rail moves, up 4% year-over-year.

For the container segments, SC Ports has handled nearly 2.4 million TEUs and 1.3 million pier containers thus far in the fiscal year 2023.