The CARTO team has introduced a new mode in their SQL API called copy mode, which allows for fast bulk table loading and unloading using direct pipes to the underlying PostgreSQL COPY command. This mode streams data directly from a file on local disk to the CARTO cloud database, offering faster upload times compared to the Import API, but requiring more control over the process, such as creating target tables manually and composing geometry columns. The new feature supports appending to existing tables and has potential for tenfold speed improvements over the Import API.