Georgia's Port of Savannah handled more than 504,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo in September, marking a record total for the month.
According to an October 7 release, the Port of Savannah saw a 3.7% year-over-year increase in September cargo volumes. The port also processed 1.5 million TEUs for the first quarter of its fiscal year, up 2.7% from that same period last year, and representing the second best quarter in its history. The Appalachian Regional Port — an inland rail terminal that connects the Port of Savannah with Northwest Georgia and neighboring states — reported a 13% increase in first quarter cargo volumes as well.
“This September performance speaks volumes about our team and shows Georgia Ports is the key gateway to Georgia and the Southeast,” said Georgia Ports Authority chairman Alec Poitevint.
The Georgia Ports Authority credited the uptick to a 5.5% year-over-year bump in imports, strong consumer spending and an extended peak season, that saw higher cargo volumes pushed out to September due to typhoon-related delays in Asia earlier in the summer. The Port of Savannah is also anticipating an additional boost in the months ahead from its $1.6 billion project to renovate its Ocean Terminal, which is now 60% complete, and is expected to increase the terminal's capacity from 200,000 TEUs to 1.75 million
