Port of Savannah Container Volumes Climb 9% in August as Ocean Terminal Project Advances

The Port of Savannah posted strong results in August, moving 534,037 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). That marks a 9 percent increase compared to the same month last year—about 44,000 additional containers—and ranks as the third-busiest month in Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) history. Through the first two months of fiscal year 2026, Savannah has handled more than one million TEUs, up 3.2 percent year-over-year.

The Georgia Ports Authority handled more than half a million twenty-foot equivalent container units in August. As a gateway port to the Southeast, the Port of Savannah handles more than 14,000 truck moves daily with 42 trains per week departing to inland markets, featuring a 20-hour average rail dwell on import containers – the fastest in the industry. (Georgia Ports)

To further boost efficiency, GPA has implemented a new fast-track routing system for container vessels entering the Port of Savannah. The process allows inbound ships to temporarily dock at Ocean Terminal until a berth becomes available at Garden City Terminal, reducing average berth idle time from 12–15 hours down to just three. GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch called the system a “gamechanger,” noting that improved turnaround times will strengthen supply chain reliability and competitiveness.

Meanwhile, auto and machinery volumes at the Port of Brunswick dipped in August, down 14.3 percent year-over-year to 63,926 units. For fiscal year-to-date, Brunswick handled 132,918 units, a decrease of 11.8 percent compared to last year.

Economic Impact Grows
Georgia’s ports remain a cornerstone of the state’s economy. A new study from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business reports that port activity now supports nearly 651,000 jobs statewide—an increase of more than 41,000 jobs compared to the prior year. In fiscal year 2024, Georgia Ports generated:
• $174 billion in sales (11% of Georgia’s total)
• $77 billion in state GDP (9% of total GDP)
• $43 billion in personal income (7% of statewide total)

Governor Brian Kemp credited the ports’ role in sustaining Georgia’s long-standing reputation as the “No. 1 state for business,” highlighting their reliable infrastructure and economic impact across the state.

Ocean Terminal Upgrades Underway
Significant investment is underway at Ocean Terminal in Savannah, where GPA’s Board has approved $614 million in civil works projects as part of a $1.54 billion expansion. The multi-phase effort will renovate the container yard, upgrade berths to handle larger vessels, and improve truck access with expanded gates and a new exit ramp connecting directly to U.S. 17/I-16.

The first phase of the yard renovation is scheduled for completion in 2027, with the second following in 2028. Once complete, the 200-acre terminal will be able to serve two large container ships simultaneously.

Over the next decade, GPA plans to invest $4.5 billion in port infrastructure, including three new big-ship berths at the planned Savannah Container Terminal on Hutchinson Island. That facility is expected to add more than 3.5 million TEUs of annual capacity by the mid-2030s.

Recognizing Truck Drivers
As part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, GPA recently honored drivers serving its terminals with safety vests and breakfast. The Port of Savannah averages over 14,000 truck moves each day, a critical link in keeping goods flowing efficiently across the Southeast.