S.C. Ports CEO says recovery underway

MORNING HEADLINES | A year of belt-tightening is looking to bring the S.C. Ports back into competition with ports across the nation, according to President and CEO Micah Mallace.

The port’s cost-cutting is part of phase one of its comeback plan introduced last October and is now in phase two, Mallace said Tuesday at the State of the Port address at the Charleston Area Convention Center.

“The first phase was to get competitive again,” Mallace said of his three-pronged plan. “The second phase of the comeback plan is to strengthen the core and deliver on some of the commitments we’ve made. And the third phase — make it stick.”

In the last year, the port cut expenses by 20% to bring rates back in line with competing ports. By doing so, the port has secured nearly 160,000 containers of new business in retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, and exports, according to Mallace.

“We looked at the way in which we had done business previously and the volumes that we’re handling today, and we recall we just did things the way we used to do them, more efficiently with a greater focus on measuring and assessing exactly where we stand,” Mallace said.

For phase two, the port is focused on growing its core manufacturing base while adding more retail and refrigerated cargo. A recent news release said national retail brands and major importers have committed to using Charleston as their Southeast gateway for discretionary lanes.

“This new business is a direct result of the port team’s willingness to rethink how we operate, find innovative solutions, and deliver the exceptional service our customers need to grow,” Mallace said. “We are building momentum; we have a clear strategy, and we are committed to turning this momentum into sustained growth.”

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