A $55 million expansion to Inland Port Greer undertaken a scant decade after its construction in 2013 is complete and has doubled the terminal’s capacity to meet growing demand.
The addition of 9,000 feet of rail to the terminal was completed in November 2022 followed in 2024 by the addition of 18 acres of container yard storage — 9 acres to the east and 9 acres to the west of the existing container yard.
While the operational portion of the expansion is complete, construction of a new terminal operations center is expected to wrap up in April followed by completion of a new heavy lift maintenance facility in June.
“This critical project not only supports the needs of our existing customers, but also positions the region to attract more cargo and new business,” said South Carolina Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin during a press event March 26. “We have seen tremendous growth at Inland Port Greer since operations began, and this expansion and investment will allow us to continue providing excellent service as our customers grow.”
The expansion will allow the inland port to handle about 300,000 rail lifts annually and meet anticipated demand through 2040, according to Will Angelich, Inland Port Greer terminal manager.
He added the rail expansion has enabled the Greer terminal to better handle the 10,000- to 12,000-foot-long trains that routinely call on the terminal taking containers to and coming from the Port of Charleston.
Customer demand drove the need for an expanded footprint as Inland Port Greer saw 355% cargo growth from 2014 to 2024, representing an average annual growth rate of 16%.
The project was funded in part by a $25 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2018. South Carolina Ports received $13.75 million of the grant, which was administered by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Inland Port Greer fast facts:
- Opened in 2013 and occupying 91 acres at 100 International Commerce Blvd. in Greer
- Operational 24/7 and manned by approximately 68 staff
- Connected to Port of Charleston 212 miles away via overnight train service provided by Norfolk Southern six days a week
