What did SC Ports announce?
In its June 25 statement, SC Ports said the move is a short-term consolidation response to industry headwinds, uncertain trade forecasts, and tempered volume. The port says it will continue serving customers through Wando and North Charleston while pausing Leatherman operations in order to protect cost competitiveness and position the business for sustainable growth.
| Operational detail | Port statement |
|---|---|
| Announcement date | June 25, 2026 |
| Terminal being paused | Leatherman Terminal |
| Pause effective date | August 1, 2026 |
| Short-term active container terminals | Wando and North Charleston |
- SC Ports says the decision is tied to uncertain trade forecasts and softer volume conditions.
- The port is presenting the change as a cost-competitiveness move, not as a capacity shortage.
- Customers needing Southeast access are being directed to the other Charleston terminals during the pause.
Does this mean Southeast port capacity is suddenly tight?
Not on the port's own description. The message is almost the opposite: SC Ports says Wando and North Charleston have sufficient capacity for current demand during the short-term pause. The more immediate shipper question is not regional capacity collapse, but whether vessel strings, terminal allocations, or drayage routines tied to Leatherman need to be adjusted before August.
What Shippers Should Do
- Check with carriers whether any Charleston calls or terminal designations on your bookings will change before August 1.
- Update local drayage and customs teams if they were previously expecting Leatherman-specific pickup or drop instructions.
- Watch for terminal allocation changes on August bookings, especially if you move import volume through Charleston regularly.
- Treat this as a routing and operating adjustment issue first, and a market-demand signal second.