Port of Charleston box volume best yet, buoyed by Asia

SOUTH CAROLINA's Port of Charleston posted its best quarter for container shipments since 2008 from July to September totalling 352,295-TEU, besting its last quarter and ahead of its five per cent forecast.

Two new Asia shipping services began serving Charleston earlier this year, and a number of specific cargo development initiatives are paying dividends, said South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) president and CEO Jim Newsome.

"Charleston's back on track and this growth is very encouraging," said Mr Newsome. "Refrigerated cargo and agricultural products have shown solid growth, and Charleston's reach is expanding. More than 20,000 companies across the US now rely on the Port of Charleston to access overseas markets."

Several major industry expansions in the state will generate new port business in the coming months, including BMW's newest X3 assembly line and TBC/Tire Kingdom's new 105,000 square metre distribution centre near the port. According to the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the state led the southeast in job creation last year with more than 18,000 new jobs.

Mr Newsome said attention will continue to be placed on consumer spending, employment and capital investment here. "US indicators are somewhat trailing the Asian economies, particularly China, which is posting considerably stronger growth, perhaps pointing to a de-coupling of these markets. We're approaching the end of double-digit increases, but the longer-term outlook for this region and Charleston is very bright."
(Source:www.schednet.com)