Cargo Records: Georgia

Record containers, total cargo tonnage, and truck and intermodal moves made August a stand-out month for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported to the GPA board on September 30. 

"We are extremely pleased by the strength of our August performance," Mr. Foltz said. "Although we set new records in many categories during August, challenges remain in many of the global markets important to future trade volumes." 

Cargo throughput for the month at GPA terminals statewide totaled 2.5 million tons, an increase of 8.5 percent, or 196,674 tons, compared to August 2012. That brought to 4.74 million tons the volume of cargo handled during the first two months of the fiscal year that began July 1, an increase from last year of 4.8 percent. 

Container movements hit a monthly high of 280,873 TEUs at the GPA’s Garden City complex in the Port of Savannah. That was up 3.8 percent from a year ago and beat the GPA’s previous record, 273,277 in October 2010. Measured by containers of all lengths, this August’s volume amounted to 156,979 units, of which a record 30,331 moved by intermodal rail (up 3.0 percent from 29,455 intermodal containers in August 2012.

"The record intermodal volumes are supported by economic and environmental benefits of rail transport," Mr. Foltz said. "Our strong partnerships with CSX and Norfolk Southern have increased our rail participation to over 19 percent of total throughput." 

August saw 180,572 truck moves at the GPA’s Garden City Terminal, another high for the Port of Savannah. 

Bulk cargo handlings, though short of a record, jumped 37.8 percent in August to 188,872 tons and 44.5 percent year-to-date to 363,786 tons. 

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