Traffic handled by the port of Charleston increased 11% on a year earlier in February. That was the slowest rate of growth for three months, but still the best February on record. The expansion was driven by a 45% climb in empty container handling. Import growth was just 6%, but that was markedly better than the 17% contraction seen by California’s ports, and was the result of additional volumes from China coming via the Panama Canal. Looking ahead further growth will require completion of dredging works, and may be impacted by Savannah and Norfolk’s tie-up.