April pier container volumes set a six-year record at the Port of Charleston, according to numbers released Friday by South Carolina port officials, marking the busiest month at facility since May 2008.

The increase in pier containers pushed fiscal year 2014 volumes up by 5.5% year-over-year. April's pier container volume represented a 12.3% increase over April 2013 and a 21.7% increase over April 2012.

Measured in 20-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs, the South Carolina Ports Authority handled 151,790 TEUs during April and 1,374,066 TEUs during fiscal year 2014 with two months still remaining.

"April reflected strong export growth at the Port of Charleston as we shipped 10.6% more containers overseas than the same month last year," said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority. "These growth figures stress the importance of our deepwater harbor as American manufacturers and exporters look for efficient, expedient ways to send their goods overseas."

The South Carolina Ports Authority owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Georgetown and Greer, handling international commerce valued at more than $63 billion annually.