SC Ports lands nearly 160,000 containers of new business

South Carolina Ports has locked in nearly 160,000 containers of new business, with the volumes phasing into its Charleston operations gradually through 2027. The win sits at the centre of a turnaround plan built on a 20% cut in expenses, sharper pricing and a push beyond the port's traditional manufacturing base into retail and refrigerated cargo.

President and CEO Micah Mallace laid out the progress in his second State of the Port address on 27 October, delivered to roughly 1,200 stakeholders. The backdrop is candidly admitted: overall cargo volumes at SC Ports remain below previous levels, and the authority knows it.

Where the new boxes come from

The committed business spans retail, consumer goods, manufacturing and export commodities. SC Ports credits stronger sales efforts, more competitive rates and improved customer service — supported by a cost-cutting programme that has pulled pricing back into line with rival gateways.

Recent commercial wins include:

• A new transloading facility near the port serving a global retailer
• Additional cargo commitments from national retail brands and major importers choosing Charleston as their gateway into the southeastern United States
• Growing rail-linked business at Inland Port Greer, including the first container tied to Isuzu's new commercial truck plant in Greenville County, received in October

The industrial property market is doing its bit too. Cushman & Wakefield counts roughly 5 million square feet of Charleston-area industrial space leased so far in 2026 — about 115 acres of warehousing, to put it in perspective. SC Ports expects several major leases to convert directly into additional container volumes.

What does this change for shippers and carriers?

For BCOs routing into the Southeast, the practical answer is capacity and price. A port with ample capacity, a 20% leaner cost base and aligned pricing becomes a credible alternative to Savannah and other regional gateways, particularly for retail distribution and refrigerated supply chains. For carriers, the gradual ramp through 2027 means incremental loadings rather than a sudden shift — but the trajectory matters when network planning runs on multi-year cycles.

"We are a highly productive port, with ample capacity, a customer-focused mindset and the market fundamentals to thrive," Mallace said. "We are perfectly positioned to achieve above-market growth, and we are now starting to see that momentum generate."

Rail and terminals carry the bet

Infrastructure underpins the sales pitch. Work has started on expanding the rail-served North Charleston Terminal, which should create near-term cargo opportunities while adding container-handling capacity over time. SC Ports is also working toward resuming operations at Leatherman Terminal and bringing the Navy Base Intermodal Facility into service.

Mallace framed rail connectivity as central for customers moving goods between inland manufacturing and distribution centres and the Port of Charleston — Greer's Isuzu-linked container being the proof of concept.

The diversification strategy — more retail distribution centres, more refrigerated cargo, layered onto established manufacturing flows — is designed to make the cargo base more resilient and spread growth across South Carolina.

The long-cycle caveat

Mallace's own caution is worth holding onto. Port development follows long investment cycles, he noted, so the benefits of recently secured business will emerge gradually rather than overnight.

"The business being awarded today will pay dividends for years to come," Mallace said. "Momentum begets momentum, and we have started to generate ours."

Verdict: a port that cut its way back into the fight and is now selling hard. The 160,000 containers suggest the pitch is landing — but with volumes still below prior peaks, Charleston's recovery will be measured in annual instalments through 2027, not quarterly ones.