SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
SOUTH CAROLINA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Rate of expansion
Growing population , increased imports draw businesses to South Carolina
By Laura Clifton
As the eighth-largest US container port , with the deepest harbor on the East Coast , Charleston is heavily relied upon by its customers to move goods to market efficiently .
The US Southeast is home to over a quarter of the country ’ s population , which has led to a steady flow of new businesses cropping up around South Carolina . The South Carolina Ports Authority ( SC Ports ) is proactively investing in critical infrastructure ahead of expected demand .
“ The Southeast is booming , with a growing population driving imports and new manufacturing investments spurring exports ,” said SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin .
“ South Carolina Ports is well positioned for this growth with a 52-foot-deep harbor , efficient terminals , new capacity on the horizon and an impressive inland port network ,” she added .
A number of warehousing and cold storage providers recently unveiled over 500,000 square feet of transloading space in the greater Charleston area , and over 3 million square feet of new industrial space came online for port users during the second quarter .
“ The South Carolina market is ripe for companies to put new investment in
SC Ports / Matthew Peacock www . joc . com October 7 , 2024 | Journal of Commerce 37