All the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) docks reached a record 37.77 million in fiscal year 2020, up 0.6%, or 223,000 tons, compared to FY2019, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, container tons grew 2% to reach 33.5 million tons for the year, another record.
GPA’s Port of Savannah, home to the largest single-terminal facility of its kind in North America, handled 4.44 million TEUs in FY2020, down less than 1% compared to the previous year.
It is also stated that port activity coupled with ongoing expansion projects such as the harbor deepening and Mason Mega Rail has quickened the pace of commercial infrastructure investment.
The Port of Savannah’s status continues to be a strong draw for economic development. Recently, Port City Logistics announced an $80 million, 1.1 million square-foot development in the Savannah market as two major resin exporters were building out a total of 2 million square feet of new space.
In Northwest Georgia, the Appalachian Regional Port (ARP) handled more than three and a half times the cargo it did the year before, moving 27,132 containers, up 19,610 boxes.
Griff Lynch, GPA’s executive director commented that
Cargo volume reductions related to COVID-19 were offset by the strength of our export markets and record volumes earlier in the year.
GPA also plans to increase its annual capacity from 6 to 11 million TEUs by doubling rail capacity to 2 million TEUs per year, and growing the fleet of yard and vessel cranes.
Glad to see an industry in Savannah that is holding up to the COVID impact. I know many companies that are hurting right now because tourism is so heavily impacted.