SC Ports CEO highlights growth and cost cuts in State of the Port address

South Carolina Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace delivered his second State of the Port address Tuesday at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, according to WCIV and WCBD.

Mallace discussed the port's challenges and outlined plans to support growth in the core manufacturing customer base, while diversifying cargo with more consumer goods and refrigerated items to drive market expansion, WCIV reported.

Since taking leadership in October 2025, Mallace pledged to reduce spending and costs to improve competitiveness. He stated the port team has cut expenses by 20%, fulfilling that commitment, WCIV noted.

Mallace emphasized that cost-cutting alone is insufficient for growth, highlighting the port's productivity, capacity, customer focus, and favorable market conditions as factors positioning it for above-market growth, WCIV added.

The port has secured nearly 160,000 containers of new business spanning retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, and exports. It also opened a near-port transload facility serving a global retailer and attracted commitments from national retail brands selecting Charleston as their Southeast hub, WCIV detailed.