Posted on October 28, 2026
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South Carolina Ports has finished phase one of its comeback plan and is now in phase two, President and CEO Micah Mallace said Tuesday at the State of the Port address at the Charleston Area Convention Center.
Port leaders, shippers, ocean carriers, maritime partners and elected officials attended. Nearly 1,200 people filled the room, a record turnout.
In the last year, the port cut expenses by 20% to bring rates back in line with competing ports. Mallace said that was the main driver of the port’s progress.
“We reduced our internal costs. We passed that back to our customers in getting our rates back in line with our competitors. And rates matter. So that’s the number one driver,” Mallace said.
The port has secured nearly 160,000 containers of new business in retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, and exports. That volume is coming online now through 2027.
