Over the fiscal year (July-March) TEU container trade grew by 9%, with an additional 255,786 TEUs moving the total up to 3.08 million – a record total for the Port of Savannah. GPA’s Executive Director Griff Lynch said: “Savannah’s continued strength is a reflection of our customers’ commitment, Georgia’s leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things. “March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share.” The GPA also broke its previous record for intermodal rail volumes, which increased by 20% in March and 15.4% overall in the fiscal year – totally 318,454 TEUs. GPA’s Chairman Jimmy Allgood said: “As the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade. “This is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. “We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020.” The GPA recently began development on its Mega Rail Terminal Project, a $126.7 million investment to expand the rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, to further develop intermodal rail volumes and throughput. Roll-on/roll-off auto and machinery units also saw increases in March at both the Port of Brunswick and the Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel’s Island Terminal at Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal handled an extra 4,050 – bringing the total to 70,194, a 17.2% increase. Lynch added: “The global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit. “As existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia’s competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks.”
The US's Georgia Port Authority (GPA) recorded a 14% increase in container volumes in March, reaching 355,208 TEU during the month. This marked the company's 17th consecutive month of growth, with the total for the fiscal year-to-date from July to March at the Port of Savannah reaching a record of 3.08 million TEU. The figures for March also showed a 20% increase in intermodal rail volumes, breaking GPA's previous record. The company's Executive Director credited a strong economy and growing market share for the positive figures.