Georgia ports pumped up cargo, container volumes in November

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) in November registered 243,233 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at its ports in Brunswick and Savannah, up 6.6 percent compared with container volume in November 2012.

Total tonnage for the month climbed 7.3 percent year over year to 2,414,630 tons. New customers calling on the ports — such as appliance makers and auto exporters — and better-than-expected economic growth have helped drive up volume the past several months, GPA officials said in a press release.

"The Port of Savannah has also seen recent private investment in refrigerated cargo warehousing, which supports Georgia's poultry exports," they said.

In the first five months of GPA's fiscal-year 2013, the ports logged more than 1.3 million TEUs, up 5.5 percent, and more than 12 million tons of cargo, up 8.8 percent compared with the same period in FY2012.

"Georgia's deepwater ports are capturing a growing market share because our efficient terminals make it easier and faster for customers to use our facilities, and our superior road and rail connections save them money reaching major markets, such as Atlanta, Charlotte and Memphis," said GPA Chairman Robert Jepson.