Port of Savannah breaks container cargo record

The Georgia Ports Authority handled nearly 414,000 20-foot equivalent container units in October. | Photo: Georgia Ports Authority / Stephen B. Morton

The Port of Savannah has reported it moved more container cargo in October than any other month in the port’s history, with 413,800 20-foot equivalent container units crossing its docks.

Containerized trade at the port has increased by 8 percent for the fiscal year to date (July-Oct. 2018), totaling 1.53 million TEUs – up 113,000 compared to the same period last year.

“A booming economy, strong consumer confidence, and an expanding customer base have resulted in record trade through the Port of Savannah,” said Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch. “I would like to congratulate Georgia Ports employees, the International Longshoremen’s Association and our other partners in the logistics industry for stepping up to the plate to handle these record volumes.”

Lynch also congratulated the International Longshoremen’s Association and the steamship lines for successfully completing a new six-year contract that will allow similar growth to continue.

Last month’s performance marked the 24th consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth for the Southeastern gateway.

“Our ports continue to add and grow cargo volumes, creating jobs across Georgia and the Southeast,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “I would like to personally thank our many customers who rely on the GPA to connect them to the global logistics chain.”

Officials state that intermodal rail cargo also grew by 8.7 percent for the month, compared to its cargo for October 2017. To date, the Port of Savannah has handled 172,416 containers by rail during the current fiscal year, marking an increase of 33,596, or 24 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

“We are currently in the process of doubling Savannah’s rail lift capacity to 1 million lifts per year to expand our market reach,” Lynch added.