SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Port of Savannah moved 363,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units in November, a 5.4% increase over the same month last year, or an additional 18,460 TEUs.
For the fiscal year to date (July-November), the Georgia Ports Authority has handled nearly 2 million TEUs, an increase of 109,000 TEUs, or 5.8%.
The positive numbers achieved last month mean Savannah’s Garden City Terminal has marked year-over-year increases for five consecutive months, and 34 out of the past 36 months.
“After nearly three full years of cargo growth, with dozens of monthly records, it is frankly surprising to see our numbers continue to grow upon such a large base,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “The streamlined movement of containers from vessel to departing rail in 24 hours and capacity increases built into Garden City Terminal have helped to increase volumes and improve efficiency.”
GPA Board Chairman Will McKnight said that the authority’s Mid-American Arc initiative, targeting markets from Memphis, Tennessee, to Chicago and the Ohio River Valley, is also starting to pay dividends with customers moving more cargo in direct shipments from Savannah to the Midwest.
“Chicago plays such an important role in the nation’s logistics, not only as a major market, but also as a cargo hub,” McKnight said. “Breaking into that market with a new routing option that provides Savannah’s world-class terminal efficiency and customer service holds amazing potential to win new business. With all the opportunities before us, it’s a great time to be a Georgian.”
In Roll-on/Roll-off traffic, Colonel’s Island at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah moved a combined 62,146 units of cars, trucks and heavy equipment in November, an increase of 5 percent, or 2,850 units. GPA has handled 281,547 Ro/Ro units, up 2,030 units or approximately 1%, through the first five months of the fiscal year.
Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5% of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.
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