Brunswick port's 'banner year' helped Georgia authority log record fiscal-year volume

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) posted a record-setting 27.2 million tons of cargo at its Savannah and Brunswick ports in fiscal-year 2013, up 2.4 percent compared with FY2012 volume. The authority also posted records for bulk cargo, total auto-machinery units and freight moved by intermodal rail in the fiscal year, which ended June 30.

"Our overall tonnage increase has been fueled by the strength of U.S. exports and the GPA's varied cargo spectrum," said Executive Director Curtis Foltz in a press release.

"Outstanding trade" in agribulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo at the Port of Brunswick led to a 47 percent jump in total tonnage in FY2013, GPA officials said. For the second-straight year, the authority registered record auto and machinery unit volume, which reached 636,942 units, up 11.7 percent year over year. Most of the volume was moved at Colonel's Island terminal in Brunswick. Business from new customers such as Subaru and Toyota helped drive up auto business.

"Brunswick has seen phenomenal growth this year as the automobile industry rebounds and sales increase," said Foltz. "As a result, the Port of Brunswick is the third-busiest port in the U.S. for total roll-on/roll-off cargo, and the second-busiest port for the import of such cargo."

The GPA posted a combined 1.75 million tons of bulk cargo through Brunswick in FY2013, more than double FY2012's 858,747 tons. The port is served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

"Working with our commercial partners, our port operation takes advantage of direct interstate access and two Class I rail services to move exports from inland factories more efficiently, as well as to move import cargo to destinations across the Southeast," said GPA Chairman Robert Jepson.