Image by Flickr user Palmetto Max

Reflecting a trend from earlier this year, the Port of Charleston handled more shipping containers last month than during same month last year.

In April, the ports handling of containers rose 28.5%

Both imports and exports showed increases over the same month last year and against the previous month. April was the fourth straight month of year-over-year container volume increases for the Port of Charleston.

“Exports have been leading the way lately, and now imports are coming back as well,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the SCSPA. Loaded export containers were up 38.1 percent in April from the same month in 2009, and loaded imports increased 25.1 percent. “Import growth is a very positive indicator and one that we’ll watch very closely in the coming months,” Newsome said.

April was Charleston’s strongest month for container volume in nearly a year and a half. In addition to the increase when compared to last year, April container volume was up 3.8 percent from the month prior.