Georgia Ports Authority Best Quarter Ever

Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced the Port of Savannah experienced 20.1-percent growth in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the first three months of FY2011 (July – September 2010), a record for the Authority.

“The first quarter of 2011, once again, showed that the Port of Savannah is not only increasing its value and market share by record numbers, but also its importance to the national logistics and transportation system,” said Foltz. “Today, the Port of Savannah serves 44 percent of this country’s population with majority exports. Moving forward, however, we do expect volumes to moderate through the first half of next year.”

In the first three months of FY2011, the GPA moved 742,637 TEUs, which is a 20.1-percent increase compared with 618,256 TEUs moved in first quarter FY2010. The GPA surpassed its pre-recession TEU record quarterly volume during the first quarter FY2011, which was held previously by first quarter FY2008.

“It is a significant milestone for the Port of Savannah to move record TEU volume even during difficult economic times,” said GPA Chairman of the Board Alec L. Poitevint. “The GPA is poised to strengthen its global leadership position weathering the storm of an economic recession and solidifying the long-term interests of our nation.”

At the Port of Brunswick, the GPA handled 101,896 auto units in first quarter FY2011, which is an increase of 56.4 percent compared with first quarter FY2010. Vessel calls at the Port of Brunswick are also up 31.8 percent with 112 calls for first quarter 2011 compared with the same period in FY2010.