GPA Announces New Appointments, Financial Growth

The Board of Directors of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has re-elected Alec L. Poitevint, II, of Bainbridge to serve a second term as Chairman of the Board. Other Board members elected to one-year offices were Robert S. Jepson, Jr. of Savannah as Vice Chairman and Roy H. Fickling of Macon as Secretary and Treasurer.

The GPA also announced overall tonnage for the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick reached the second highest monthly volume ever in May with 2,352,302 tons, which was a 16.7 percent increase compared with May 2010.

“While the global economy continues its modest and fragile recovery, the GPA reported increases in all category groups,” said GPA’s Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “We anticipate a strong end to the fiscal year, reflecting record volumes and container throughput approaching 12 percent growth.”

Container volume remained strong with container traffic up 10.1 percent in May, handling 143,447 units or 254,329 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Loaded exports increased 16.7 percent compared with May 2010.

“Carriers are repositioning empty containers into Savannah to support our robust export growth,” said Foltz. “Export volumes remain our dominant direction, outpacing imports 54 percent to 46 percent.”

Ocean Terminal’s breakbulk cargo was up 45.7 percent in May 2011 with 106,782 tons and a fiscal-year-to-date volume of 1,004,563, which is an FYTD increase of 36.5 percent. This growth was due to growth in import/export machinery, export wood pulp and export automobiles, as well as global demand for iron/steel, lumber and machinery.

Colonel’s Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 43,843 auto and machinery units in May, which yielded a 21.8-percent increase compared with May 2010 and the Authority’s highest monthly volume ever. Roll-on/roll-off volume at the facility has increased 43.6 percent for the fiscal year (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012).

“Global demand for Georgia’s products has been essential in helping our state weather the economic recession and will be critical in our region’s growth,” said Poitevint. “Our balanced export-to-import ratio promotes efficiency and has helped to drive economic recovery throughout the state of Georgia and the entire Southeast.”

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 295,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $15.5 billion in income, $61.7 billion in revenue and $2.6 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.6 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 12.4 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in 2010.