At the Georgia Ports Authority Board meeting, Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported strong growth for February.
The GPA achieved an increase of 6.9%–or 147,650 tons–in total cargo compared to the same month last year, moving 2.27 million tons of freight in February.
Foltz also detailed growth in auto/machinery units moved through Colonel’s Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick. With a 30.4% improvement over February last year, Brunswick added 11,799 vehicles to reach 50,622 units. For the fiscal year, the GPA has moved 415,730 units, up 21% over FY2012.
“Increased roll-on/roll-off cargo among the 21 car manufacturers we serve indicates an improving market for auto sales,” Foltz said, adding that the new business is part of the broader story of GPA’s impact on the national economy. “Our exports of Ford, GM and Toyota, as well as luxury brands Mercedes and BMW, support car making jobs across the southern U.S.”
Brunswick also achieved phenomenal growth in bulk cargo, which reached 124,028 tons in February, an increase of 91,568 tons, or 282% over February 2012. For FY2013, bulk tonnage in Brunswick has surpassed 800,500 tons, for a year-over-year growth rate of 550%.
The Port of Savannah saw a growth of 45,007 tons, or 2.3%, over February 2012 to surpass 2 million tons of cargo moved in February alone. Twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) also grew by 2.3%. Year-over-year, Savannah added more than 5,000 TEUs in February, for a total of 242,425. February performance was up 4.9% compared with January 2013.
Export loaded volumes remain dominant through Georgia’s ports, representing 56% of loaded traffic.
“Business expansion at Georgia’s deepwater ports translates into jobs and prosperity across the logistics sector, as well as having a positive impact on support industries and the broader economy,” said GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson.
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