Port of Savannah Container Volumes Surge in February

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) saw a significant increase in container volumes at the Port of Savannah in February, with 451,670 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEU) moved. This marks a 14.4 percent rise compared to the same period last year.

Contributing to the surge was a 19% increase in loaded import containers and a 10% rise in export loads.

“The region’s fast-growing population, and an increasing number of manufacturing and logistics operations are both factors in the long-term expansion of trade through Georgia,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch.

February’s performance marks two consecutive months of growth. In January, the GPA handled 428,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to the same month last year.

Despite a challenging beginning to the fiscal year, Lynch is optimistic that the improved volumes will lead to a robust second half of Fiscal Year 2024, ending in June.

In other news, intermodal rail cargo set a February record last month in Savannah. The port’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal saw an impressive 39 percent increase in rail volumes compared to February 2023. Lynch emphasized that the significant investments made in rail infrastructure will be instrumental in achieving their next growth target.

The Mason Mega Rail Terminal, the largest marine terminal rail facility in North America, has played a crucial role in expanding the port’s rail capacity and speeding up intermodal cargo handling.

The Appalachian Regional Port (ARP) in Northwest Georgia also set a February record, thanks to an influx in the import of manufacturing components. The ARP offers an energy-efficient alternative to all-truck routes to and from the Port of Savannah, offsetting 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

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