The following release was published by Port of Savannah:
The Port of Savannah handled 534,037 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in August, an increase of 44,000 TEUs, or 9 percent year-over-year, representing the third highest month in GPA history. Container volumes were 1,010,725 TEUs fiscal year-to-date through August, 3.2% higher than last year.
In September, Georgia Ports officially started its new fast-track routing process for container vessels entering the Port of Savannah, optimizing the Savannah River transit for inbound vessels to Garden City Terminal. Inbound vessels will temporarily dock at Georgia Ports’ Ocean Terminal “lay berth” until a berth at Garden City Terminal opens. The first vessel to experience this process saved 12-15 hours. “This lay berth, combined with our eight start times for ship labor, creates exciting new possibilities for ships to stay on schedule or make up time. This is a gamechanger for GPA and our customers,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch. The key point of the lay berth is the reduction in berth idle time from 12-15 hours down to three hours which translates into better supply chain velocity and competitiveness. “Our mission is to make it easy to do business. “We’re really focusing on high productivity at the berth, the container yard, the truck gates and the rail – and the numbers show it.”
In the Port of Brunswick, autos and machinery through Colonels Island Terminal decreased (-14.3%) year-over-year to 63,926 units in August and (-11.8%) to 132,918 units in fiscal YTD 2026.
Georgia Ports Economic Impact Up 7% in 2024
“Georgia has been recognized as the No. 1 state for business for over a decade in part because we’re also the best state for reliable infrastructure,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As powerful economic drivers, the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick are a key part of the pro-job creator environment we’ve fostered to ensure every part of our state can thrive.”
Port activity in Georgia now supports nearly 651,000 full- and part-time jobs across the state, according to an economic impact study by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. The statewide number has grown by 41,770 jobs or 7 percent compared to fiscal year 2023, the period covered by the previous study. Georgia Ports now help sustain 12 percent of total state employment, according to the study.
According to the new findings, the statewide economic impact of Georgia’s ports in fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) includes:
- $174 billion in sales, accounting for 11 percent of Georgia’s total sales, an increase of 2 percent or $3 billion compared to FY2023.
- $77 billion in state GDP, or 9 percent of Georgia’s total GDP, up 7 percent or $5 billion compared to FY2023.
- $43 billion in personal income, amounting to 7 percent of Georgia’s total personal income, an increase of 7.5 percent or $3 billion compared to FY2023.
Source: Port of Savannah