Georgia Ports Authority posts record growth in FY2015

The Georgia Ports Authority experienced unprecedented growth in fiscal-year 2015, with total cargo across all terminals increasing 7.8 percent over the previous year, Executive Director Curtis Foltz announced yesterday.

In FY2015, a record 3.66 million twenty-foot equivalent container units crossed the Port of Savannah's docks, a 17 percent increase compared with FY2014. Of that cargo, 369,347 containers moved by rail, an 11 percent increase over the previous year, according to a GPA press release.

Between Savannah's Ocean Terminal and the Port of Brunswick, the authority moved 714,008 units of autos and heavy machinery, also a record. Automobile units increased by 29 percent at Ocean Terminal as a result of new customers and growth in existing trade, Foltz said.

Total cargo across all terminals rose 7.8 percent to 31.7 million tons for the year.

In his annual "State of the Port" address to more than 1,300 attendees, Foltz attributed the year's growth to "West Coast diversions to East Coast ports, a recovering U.S. economy and import import market share gains leading to all-time highs in cargo volume."

"The fact we were able to handle this influx of business without congestion has opened doors to long-term opportunities for Georgia. This new improvement plan will continue to keep Savannah's capacity ahead of demand," he said.