The Georgia Ports Authority increased containerized cargo in March by 27.8 percent compared to the same month a year ago, for an additional 72,499 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), port officials announced Wednesday.
For the first time, the Port of Savannah moved 333,058 TEUs in a single month, surpassing its previous monthly record set in October 2014 by more than 21,000 TEUs.
“We are moving record volumes while maintaining excellent service levels for our customers,” said Curtis Foltz, the ports’ executive director. “Our March numbers have once again demonstrated the scale, flexibility and efficiency of the Garden City Terminal. Freight handling remained fluid, even with demand well above forecasts.”
GPA board chairman James Walters said the increase shows the level of trust cargo owners have in Georgia’s ports.
Foltz said the GPA is taking steps to increase capacity at its Garden City Terminal, including construction of a new truck gate and the purchase of 30 rubber-tired gantry cranes, which will bring the total number to 146.
March also capped an active third quarter that helped deliver a 15.3 percent increase in TEU volumes for the fiscal year to date, according to the report. For the nine-month period, GPA moved 2.66 million TEUs, an increase of 352,381 compared to the same period last year.
In other commodity groups, breakbulk cargo — goods such as steel, paper and rubber — has improved by 7.6 percent (144,968 tons) compared to fiscal year 2014 to reach 2.04 million tons. Bulk cargo, ranging from wood pellets to vegetable oil and other agricultural products, increased by 4.1 percent (87,429 tons) through March for a total of 2.21 million tons.
