South Carolina's Import/Export Profile: Key Trade Commodities

South Carolina's International Trade Landscape

South Carolina is a major trade state, leveraging its Port of Charleston (3rd busiest US container port), extensive rail/road networks, and manufacturing base. Here's the commodity breakdown:

Major Imports (via Port of Charleston & Inland Ports)

• Vehicles & Parts: #1 import – BMW, Mercedes, Volvo parts; finished vehicles
• Apparel & Textiles: Clothing, footwear, fabric – retail distribution hub
• Machinery & Electrical Equipment: Industrial machinery, electronics, appliances
• Chemicals & Plastics: Resins, industrial chemicals, plastic products
• Food & Beverages: Specialty foods, beverages, agricultural products
• Furniture & Home Goods: Growing category for retail distribution
• Tires & Rubber Products: Bridgestone, Michelin supply chains

Major Exports

• Aerospace & Aircraft Components: #1 export – Boeing 787 parts (North Charleston), Lockheed Martin, 400+ aerospace firms
• Automotive Parts & Vehicles: BMW X3-X7 (Spartanburg – largest BMW plant globally), tires, components
• Machinery & Electrical Equipment: Industrial machinery, power generation equipment
• Textiles & Yarn: Legacy industry – synthetic fibers, technical textiles
• Wood Pulp & Paper: Timber-rich state; International Paper, Domtar mills
• Chemicals & Plastics: Specialty chemicals, polymer resins
• Agri-Products: Poultry, soybeans, cotton, peaches

Trade Partners (Top 5)

1. Germany (BMW, aerospace, machinery)
2. China (imports: electronics, furniture; exports: pulp, scrap)
3. Canada (automotive, machinery, energy)
4. Mexico (automotive supply chain)
5. Singapore (aerospace, electronics transshipment)

Infrastructure Advantages

• Port of Charleston: 52-ft depth, 24/7 ops, on-dock rail, Hugh Leatherman Terminal (2021)
• Inland Ports: Greer (Greenville), Dillon (Pee Dee) – rail-connected
• Foreign Trade Zones: #21 (Charleston), #38 (Greenville), #127 (Columbia)
• Rail: CSX, Norfolk Southern mainlines; short lines

Data: US Census Bureau, USA Trade Online, SC Ports Authority. Rankings by value (USD). Services trade (tourism, finance) not included.