Surging December numbers topped off a record-setting 2014 for Georgia Ports Authority, Executive Director Curtis Foltz told his board Monday.
Led by a 10.2 percent increase in 20-foot container units — more than 3.3 million — and a 7.4 percent jump in total tonnage, the ports experienced growth in all cargo segments and set the stage for a strong second half of fiscal year 2015.
The Port of Brunswick continued its dominant performance in auto and machinery trade, moving 688,575 units in 2014, Foltz said. Combined with roll-on/roll-off trade through the Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal, Georgia Ports moved 716,055 units in 2014, an 8.6 percent increase on the year.
Breakbulk cargo such as forest products, iron and steel improved by 12 percent, while bulk cargo such as gypsum, wood pellets and agricultural products saw an increase of 5.7 percent.
Counting containerized, bulk and breakbulk cargo, total tonnage reached 30.39 million tons in 2014, up more than 2 million for the year.
“GPA’s great performance over the past year is a testament to Georgia’s superior logistics network, starting with port terminals that have flawlessly taken on more business while still ensuring on-time, reliable delivery,” Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement released Monday.
Revenue for the month of December was $28.2 million, an increase of more than 17 percent over last December. At 2.66 million tons, December’s tonnage represented the second-highest monthly total on record, an increase of nearly 13 percent over the same month last year, Foltz said, adding that container volumes were up 18 percent for the month.
Also in December, GPA moved a record 68,684 automotive and heavy equipment units, for a year-over-year increase of 20.1 percent.
“Commerce has chosen Savannah as the Southeast’s busiest port for containerized cargo,” said board chairman James Walters. “With construction beginning on the Savannah Harbor deepening, the Jimmy Deloach Parkway extension moving toward completion and our continued on-terminal investment, we are solidifying our role as a logistics hub.”
For the first six months of fiscal 2015, container activity was up 13.6 percent, with import loaded containers up 31.6 percent. Export loads were up by 9 percent.
Import volumes returned to the dominant position, outpacing exports 52 percent to 48 percent.
The strong container volumes reflect continued economic recovery in the U.S. retail segment, a growing population base in the Southeast, diversion of cargo due to the uncertainty of union negotiations on the West Coast and capacity concerns at other major gateway ports, Foltz said.
Cargo diversions are expected to diminish once contract issues between West Coast union and management are resolved, leading to more moderate growth, he said.
In other business, the board approved the purchase of 10 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes to accommodate larger than expected volume growth. This order is in addition to a May order for 20 of the machines used to handle shipping containers on the terminal. The purchases will bring Savannah’s total number of the cranes to 146.