Georgia Ports Authority posts 14.1 percent increase in roll-on/roll-off cargo in April
Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) moved 2.4 million tons of cargo in April, a 4.7 percent increase – or 108,532 tons – over the same month a year ago. This figure was boosted by a strong performance in containers, bulk and Roll-on/Roll-off cargo, said in the company's press release.
“Our total tonnage makes April the highest volume month on record,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “And with companies like Haier appliances, Kent bicycles and Pep Boys recently choosing the Port of Savannah, our drawing power for cargo is only getting stronger.”
The GPA also achieved a 4 percent increase in container traffic for April, moving 258,951 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), or 10,040 TEUs more than April 2012. Foltz said April container volume was 11.3 percent higher than March. Exports remain dominant, representing 54 percent of loaded volume.
The GPA moved 57,709 auto and machinery units in April, its third highest month for roll-on, roll-off cargo. Since July 1, Brunswick and Savannah have moved 526,348 units – a 14.1 percent increase over the previous fiscal year to date.
“We are seeing strong performance because cargo owners know they can get their goods to market faster when they come through Georgia,” said GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson. “Our streamlined service on-port, combined with better connections to the hinterlands by road and rail, make our deepwater ports the obvious choice for global trade.”
Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah was the second busiest U.S. container port for the export of American goods by tonnage in FY2011. It also handled 8.7 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 12.5 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2011.
