In June, pier containers at the Port of Charleston increased almost 34 percent over the previous year - the fourth straight month of year-over-year, double-digit increases.
Despite widespread declines in global trade in 2009, the SCSPA volumes rebounded during the past six months and closed its most recent fiscal year exceeding its budgeted container volume. In the accounting period that ended June 30, Charleston handled 741,208 pier containers, off 5.2 percent from FY2009.
"Despite a very challenging economic environment, the SCSPA posted an operating profit and enjoyed strong volume increases over the past six months," said Bill Stern, chairman of the SCSPA board. "While we expect volume to moderate in the latter half of the year, we're encouraged that business has returned at such a fast pace and we're headed in the right direction."
During the current fiscal year, which began on July 1, the SCSPA is projecting a seven percent increase in container volume and a more than 50 percent increase in breakbulk and non-container cargo.