THE GEORGIA Ports Authority saw a strong August with its second-highest month since October 2010 for containers in a 13.8 per cent increase to 270,610 TEU with the fiscal year-to-date 2012/2013 up 4.4 per cent to 522,740 TEU.
Across all terminals it hit 2.3 million tons, up 13 per cent on the month. For the fiscal year, 4.52 million tons crossed GPA docks, an increase of 5.6 per cent.
"The GPA's growth despite a relatively flat economy reflects the level of efficiency and service our customers receive, which helps Georgia's deepwater ports maintain existing business and expand our market share," said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz.
The Port of Savannah marked an August increase of 10.4 percent in total tonnage, or 197,720 tons, for more than two million tons of cargo. That growth was led by a nine per cent increase in container tonnage at Garden City Terminal, and a 47.3 per cent increase in breakbulk freight at Savannah's Ocean Terminal, compared to same month 2011.
For the fiscal year to date, total tonnage at Port of Savannah terminals is 4.14 million, up 3.7 per cent.
Total vessel calls reached 259 in August, 36 more than in August a year ago. The GPA set August records in total trucking gate moves (179,905) and in containers moved by rail (29,364).
Georgia's deepwater ports handled 8.7 per cent of the US containerised cargo volume and 12.5 per cent of all US containerised exports in FY2011.
Besides containerised cargo, the GPA also grew its bulk and breakbulk business. At the Port of Brunswick's East River docks, bulk cargo went from 49,402 tons in August of last year to 80,176 in August, for an increase of 62.3 per cent. Year-over-year, East River moved 7.8 per cent more cargo to reach 101,738 tons.
At Colonel's Island in Brunswick, breakbulk cargo jumped 46.2 per cent on the month to 108,585 tons. On the fiscal year, the rate of growth is 35 per cent at 209,477 tons. Breakbulk at Brunswick's Mayor's Point nearly doubled to 10,380 tons.
Automobile and machinery units moved through Colonel's Island and Ocean Terminal increased 45.7 per cent on the month, totalling 57,113 units. This means August was also the second-highest month for ro/ro units at the GPA, with the high mark set in April 2012.
Asian Shipper News
Login
