Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced the ports saw a growth rate of 5.0 percent in the first quarter of FY2012, moving 6.5 million tons of freight. Over the same period in FY2011, the port moved 6.2 million tons of cargo. Measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, the GPA’s container volumes saw growth of 3.7 percent. During the July through September period, the ports moved 770,190 TEUs, compared with 742,593 last year. The positive quarterly container results were aided by an early peak shipment of holiday goods, which occurred during September, delivering 11.1 percent TEU growth for the month. “We are developing new opportunities for growth during these challenging economic times,” Foltz said.