Georgia Ports Set New Ro-Ro Cargo Record

The Georgia Ports Authority reported a record 80,600 units of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in April, a 44% increase compared to the same month last year.

April 2024 outpaced March 2024, becoming the busiest month ever for ro-ro cargo volumes.

Griff Lynch, GPA President and CEO, attributed the growth to various factors including strong Asian imports, an increase in vehicle exports, the addition of new customers, and expanded capacity for existing clients. Diversions from the Port of Baltimore also helped to boost volumes at Colonel’s Island Terminal. Approximately 9,000 import vehicles and 1,000 units of high/heavy equipment were diverted to Brunswick.

Heavy machinery exports also rose by 500 units compared to the GPA’s monthly average for the 2024 fiscal year.

However, Lynch foresees the impact of diverted cargo to diminish in June as the Port of Baltimore is expected to fully restore its service.

During the first three quarters of FY2024, GPA averaged 69,880 units per month in total Ro/Ro.

While Ro/Ro cargo saw a significant increase, April also saw growth in container trade. The Port of Savannah moved 441,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), which represents an 8 percent increase compared to the same month last year. This makes it the third busiest April on record after 2021 and 2022.

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