CHARLESTON, SC: May 21, 2018. South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) has announced the highest April container volumes in its history, with growth of four percent over the same month last year.

SCPA handled 196,439 TEU last month, bringing the total since the beginning of its current fiscal year to 1.8 million units moved across its Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals.

“Our strong April volumes were driven in part by significant growth of loaded export containers, which reflects the fact that shippers are utilising Charleston’s deepwater harbor as a last port of call for heavy export cargo,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO. “Container volume during the spring months puts SCPA in a good position to achieve strong fiscal year results that will exceed FY17 volumes.”

Inland Port Greer handled 9,577 rail moves in April, pushing fiscal year-to-date volumes slightly ahead of last year with 96,937 rail moves since July.

Breakbulk volume in Charleston reached 608,829 tons in April, with 51,426 tons of non-containerized cargo including 17,646 finished vehicles.

The Port has also announced that Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poors have issued A ratings with a stable outlook for the Port’s upcoming Series 2018 bonds and Series 2015 bonds, citing SCPA’s cargo volume growth, competitive infrastructure, operating model and financial history.

Standard & Poors has assigned an A+ rating with a stable outlook on both bond series. The agency said the rating reflected the port’s strong market position and its importance to the regional economy as an import/export hub for manufacturers and other businesses in South Carolina and neighbouring states.

“The strong ratings issued by both Moody’s and S&P reflect SCPA’s strong position in the market and our capability of delivering on the necessary projects to remain a top ten container port,” Newsome added.