Last month was Georgia Ports Authority’s best on record as the nation’s fourth largest and fastest growing container port moved 2.6 million tons of cargo, powered largely by double-digit box growth. The 349,682-ton increase represented a growth of 15.5 percent compared to the same month a year ago.
Garden City Terminal moved 260,539 twenty-foot equivalent container units — or TEUs — during the month, up 12 percent. Intermodal cargo — containers moved by rail — accounted for nearly 20 percent of total container volume.
“A combination of new customers and retail outlets increasing inventory before the busy summer season factored into our success,” said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz.
“Meanwhile, at our Colonel’s Island auto port, we’re seeing an increase in volume as more carmakers choose the Port of Brunswick as their gateway to the Southeastern U.S.”
Indeed, a record number of roll-on/roll-off units — more than 64,000 cars, trucks and tractors — crossed GPA docks in March, some 21 percent more than year-ago figures.
For the current fiscal year, which began July 1, GPA is reporting a 6.8-percent increase in TEUs and a 7.4 percent growth in rolling cargo.
Total tonnage for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 was 21.8 million tons, an increase of 8.4 percent compared to the same period last year.
GPA board chairman Bob Jepson credited growth to the ports’ commitment to economy, efficiency and customer service.
“This outstanding and sustained level of growth is possible because Georgia’s deepwater ports offer faster and more economical connections to the population centers of the Southeast,” Jepson said. “Delivering better service helps the GPA to retain and win the new business that has such an important impact on the nation’s economy.”
India’s impact
There’s a reason manufacturers and others looking to do business overseas are excited about the possibilities of breaking into the Indian market.
After all, who wouldn’t want 1.2 billion potential new customers?
Add to that the fact that Georgia’s ports already lead the Southeast in trade with India and you begin to understand the importance of the conference Savannah will host next week at the Hyatt Regency.
“India’s Supply Chain: Markets and Opportunities,” a day-and-a-half executive forum exploring the business opportunities and profit potential offered by the rapid expansion and globalization of India’s supply chain, kicks off Tuesday afternoon with a tour and presentation at Georgia Ports.
“Our goal is to encourage investment, partnerships and business between the United States and India and accelerate growth in key areas of science and technology, energy, supply chain, logistics and infrastructure,” said Ani Agnihotri, program chairman for the conference.
“India stands out as one of the most promising markets in sectors such as agriculture, engineering goods, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, infrastructural projects and telecoms, among others.”
Registration and business sessions begin Wednesday with a welcoming address from Jamie McCurry, senior director of administration at the GPA.
“India is a valued and growing trading partner for Georgia’s ports. The Port of Savannah’s total container trade with India more than doubled between 2009 and 2013,” McCurry said. “In fact, Savannah handled 14 percent of all U.S. East and Gulf Coast container trade with India last year, making our port the busiest in the Southeast for U.S.-India trade.”
Textiles such as rugs, sheets and blankets, as well as fabric including raw cotton, auto parts and arts and crafts are the main imports from India handled by the GPA, while paper, wood pulp, logs and lumber, clay, and miscellaneous cargo are the main exports.
Three container services calling on Garden City Terminal offer direct routes to India, and one mixed cargo service calling at Ocean Terminal directly serves the Indian market, while eight more of GPA’s Suez services offer transshipment opportunities.
For more information on the conference, go to usaindiabusinesssummit.com.
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
By Mary Carr Mayle
Shipping schedule
Following are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean terminals this week. Schedules are supplied by GPA and are subject to change.
TERMINAL VESSEL ETA
GCT PAGO Today
GCT WARNOW ORCA Today
GCT MAERSK KENTUCKY Today
GCT JPO CAPRICORNUS Today
GCT MIRAMARIN Today
GCT XIN WU HAN Today
GCT TSINGTAO EXPRESS Today
GCT COSCO JEDDAH Today
GCT MOL ENDEAVOR Today
OT GRANDE MAROCCO Today
OT JOSCO HANGZHOU Today
GCT APL OMAN Saturday
GCT HS PARIS Saturday
GCT TOKYO EXPRESS Saturday
OT TIRRANNA Saturday
GCT CHARLESTON EXPRESS Sunday
GCT ARTHUR MAERSK Sunday
GCT MAERSK PITTSBURGH Monday
GCT CONTI HARMONY Monday
GCT AL RAIN Monday
GCT DRESDEN EXPRESS Monday
GCT OOCL VANCOUVER Monday
GCT ZIM LUANDA Tuesday
GCT EVER DECENT Tuesday
GCT YM MOBILITY Tuesday
GCT APL TURQUOISE Tuesday
GCT CAFER DEDE Tuesday
GCT NYK ROMULUS Tuesday
GCT MOL MARVEL Wednesday
GCT NEW YORK TRADER Wednesday
GCT MAERSK SARNIA Wednesday
GCT HANJIN MARSEILLES Wednesday
GCT CMA CGM MATISSE Wednesday
GCT ZIM PANAMA Thursday
GCT SAFMARINE BANDAMA Thursday
GCT MAERSK MONTANA Thursday
GCT AKINADA BRIDGE Thursday
OT MORNING CARINA Thursday
OT STAR LAGUNA Thursday