Georgia records second-busiest month on record

22 February 2023

Print Page

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled 552,800 20ft equivalent container units (TEUs) in October 2022, for an increase of 9.6% (48,460 TEUs) compared to the same month in 2021.


The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled 552,800 20ft equivalent container units (TEUs) in October 2022, for an increase of 9.6% (48,460 TEUs) compared to the same month in 2021.

 “Customers continue to bring new or expanding business to the Port of Savannah, drawn by our global connectivity and the supply chain network that links Savannah to major US markets,” said Griff Lynch, executive director, GPA. “We can report that ships at anchor are trending downward, and expanded berth capacity coming online next year will allow us to serve our growing customer base with even greater efficiency.”

October 2022 was GPA’s second[1]busiest month on record after only August 2021, when the Port of Savannah handled 575,500 TEUs. GPA has now topped half a million TEUs in three of the first four months of fiscal year 2023, for total volumes of 2.1 million TEUs for the year to date.

In the opening months of the current fiscal year, 160 importers were either new customers at the Port of Savannah or existing customers who grew their Savannah trade by 20% or more. This combined increase represented 107,000 additional TEUs from July through October compared to the previous year.

“There has been downward pressure on the total US container trade related to inflation and a shift in consumer spending toward services such as restaurants and travel,” said GPA board chairman Joel Wooten. “However, the Port of Savannah continues to outperform relative to the national market, driving new business for Georgia.”

Additionally, Savannah and other East and Gulf Coast ports have been gaining market share relative to the West Coast. According to the most recent data from PIERS/IHS Markit, the East Coast increased its share of the container trade from 47%in July 2021 to 48.4% in July of 2022.

The GPA’s Port of Brunswick also achieved significant growth in October, with Colonel’s Island Terminal handling 70,233 units of roll-on/roll-off cargo.

“Greater availability of computer chips has allowed carmakers to increase production,” said Cliff Pyron, chief commercial officer, GPA. “This, combined with manufacturers’ traditional end-of year push, yielded strong results for our October auto volumes.”

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled 552,800 20ft equivalent container units (TEUs) in October 2022, for an increase of 9.6% (48,460 TEUs) compared to the same month in 2021.

 “Customers continue to bring new or expanding business to the Port of Savannah, drawn by our global connectivity and the supply chain network that links Savannah to major US markets,” said Griff Lynch, executive director, GPA. “We can report that ships at anchor are trending downward, and expanded berth capacity coming online next year will allow us to serve our growing customer base with even greater efficiency.”

October 2022 was GPA’s second[1]busiest month on record after only August 2021, when the Port of Savannah handled 575,500 TEUs. GPA has now topped half a million TEUs in three of the first four months of fiscal year 2023, for total volumes of 2.1 million TEUs for the year to date.

In the opening months of the current fiscal year, 160 importers were either new customers at the Port of Savannah or existing customers who grew their Savannah trade by 20% or more. This combined increase represented 107,000 additional TEUs from July through October compared to the previous year.

“There has been downward pressure on the total US container trade related to inflation and a shift in consumer spending toward services such as restaurants and travel,” said GPA board chairman Joel Wooten. “However, the Port of Savannah continues to outperform relative to the national market, driving new business for Georgia.”

Additionally, Savannah and other East and Gulf Coast ports have been gaining market share relative to the West Coast. According to the most recent data from PIERS/IHS Markit, the East Coast increased its share of the container trade from 47%in July 2021 to 48.4% in July of 2022.

The GPA’s Port of Brunswick also achieved significant growth in October, with Colonel’s Island Terminal handling 70,233 units of roll-on/roll-off cargo.

“Greater availability of computer chips has allowed carmakers to increase production,” said Cliff Pyron, chief commercial officer, GPA. “This, combined with manufacturers’ traditional end-of year push, yielded strong results for our October auto volumes.”

Georgia ports Authority/Stephen Morton