The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) had its best month ever in March with the Port of Savannah posting a 12 per cent year-on-year container increase to 260,539 TEU while overall cargo was up 15.5 per cent to 2.61 million tons, according to Shipping Gazette.
"The 349,682-ton increase was powered largely by double-digit container growth. The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal volume was up by 28,000 TEU in March. Cargo moved by rail accounted for 254,263 containers, or about 19.8 per cent of volume.
"A combination of new customers and retail outlets increasing inventory before the busy summer season factored into our success," said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz.
"Meanwhile, at our dedicated auto port, we're seeing an increase in volume as more carmakers choose the Port of Brunswick as their gateway to the southeastern US," he said.
A record number of roll-on/roll-off units - more than 64,000 cars, trucks and tractors - crossed GPA docks in March, up 21 per cent year-on-year.
Strong March cargo volumes built on the previous eight months to deliver a 6.8 per cent fiscal year to date increase to 2.31 million TEU, said a GPA statement.
"Ro/ro traffic has seen even stronger growth for the fiscal year to date, reaching 503,091 units for a 7.4 per cent (34,452-unit) improvement," the statement said.