South Carolina… The World Connects Here
Being just right means having the infrastructure network in place to make business happen. South Carolina has one of the nation’s fastest-growing container ports, an innovative inland port, 2,300 miles of rail lines and more than 41,000 miles of state-maintained highways. Because of these assets, the Palmetto State has become internationally-known, not only for making things and making them well, but also for our skill in getting those things where they need to go.
From 2011-2017, transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL)-related firms announced capital investments of approximately $1.2 billion in South Carolina. With the recent opening of the Panama Canal expansion, it appears this dynamic industry will only keep growing within our borders. To accommodate this growth, South Carolina has been taking steps to ensure that our TDL capabilities exceed expectations. Evidence of our commitment is the project to deepen the Charleston Harbor to 52 feet, making it the deepest shipping channel in the Southeast.
Why is SC Just Right for Transportation, Distribution and Logistics?
208 M
Number of people within two days’ drive of South Carolina
41,000
miles of state-maintained highways
2,300
miles of rail
$1.2 B
capital investments announced by TDL firms from 2011-2017
113,000
South Carolinians employed in the TDL sector
$3 M
in cargo handled every hour by the Port of Charleston
Source: South Carolina Department of Commerce
South Carolina Ports
South Carolina’s public port system is the state’s most significant strategic asset. Its connectivity to the global marketplace influences economic development and job growth, and its commitment to capable, competitive operations will deliver positive impacts to the state and region for years to come.
Today South Carolina Ports Authority announced record container volume of 2.2 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) handled during the 2018 fiscal year, an increase of three percent over the previous fiscal year.
SC Ports Authority facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown, and Greer drive $53 billion in annual statewide economic impact. Each day, an average of six vessels sail into our state’s harbors, carrying cargo worth more than $150 million.
Source: South Carolina Ports Authority