In September, the Port of Savannah handled 317,411 twenty-foot equivalent container units, a 7.3 percent (21,713-TEU) increase over the same month last year.

“We are pleasantly surprised to see volumes remainingabove last year’s double digit growth,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz, who noted a 12.9 percent increase in September 2014. “Last month was the busiest September for container traffic in GPA’s history. We anticipate, at some point this year, to begin seeing throughput leveling off to more normal patterns.”

The Port of Savannah’s record volumes continue a pattern that has made it the only U.S. port to rank among the Journal of Commerce’s listing of the Top 10 fastest growing ports in the world, released last week.

“New customers exposed to services through the Port of Savannah have found that they can reach the fast-growing Southeastern U.S. market more efficiently through Georgia’s deepwater ports,” said GPA Board Chairman James Walters. “Being the only American port to achieve this ranking is testimony to a long-term commitment to customer service.”

The GPA also achieved healthy roll-on/roll-off cargo growth in September, expanding 4.6 percent (2,200 units) to reach 50,305 Ro/Ro units
for the month.

In total tonnage, the GPA grew cargo by 5 percent (121,423 tons) to reach 2.52 million tons in September; of that figure, the Port of Brunswick accounted for 197,366 tons, up 3.6 percent (6,787 tons). The Port of Savannah’s September total increased by 5.2 percent to reach 2.32 million
tons.

“Growing cargo volumes deliver additional jobs and increased investment for Georgia,” said Walters.

Overall container lifts for that month hit 329,057, up 7.9 percent from August 2014. The August 2015 numbers represent a new monthly record for
container lifts at the Port of New York and New Jersey. Rail lifts also had their best August ever. With 45,533 lifts, August rail volumes are ahead of August 2014 by 5.9 percent, with year-to-date volumes ahead of 2014 by 13 percent.

Overall year-to-date, the port’s volumes are ahead of 2014 by 12 percent. With 163,674 lifts, August 2015 imports outperformed August 2014 by 5.2 percent. Year-to-date, import loads are 11 percent in front of the same period for 2014.

With 64,188 lifts, August 2015 exports lag behind August 2014 by 10.4 percent. Year-to-date, export loads are down 1.5 percent. Autos regained their momentum in August, up 17.5 percent compared to 2014. For the year, autos are up 23.9 percent overall.

We’re also launching the report in a new format: an interactive and easy to read web environment, so you can explore the issues online and share with your peers.

For more information visit www.trelleborg.com