Volumes handled at the Port of Charleston only increased 1.2% in July on a year earlier, though excluding empties the increase was nearer 6%. Panjiva data shows this was driven largely by a 33% increase in imports from China – the Panama Canal may be having an effect. The pattern should continue in August, with traffic from China rising 13.8%, and a return to growth from Europe of 13.9% bringing overall port traffic back to growth after five months of declines.