The Port of Savannah in the US state of Georgia ended its 2026 financial year on a strong note: in June, cargo throughput rose by over 70,000 TEU.
In total, the port handled 483,684 TEU last month. This represents an increase of 73,300 TEU compared with the same month last year, corresponding to growth of 18 per cent. The financial year was also positive for the Appalachian Regional Port in the north-west of the state, which is also operated by Georgia Ports. A record number of 49,319 containers were handled there, representing an increase of 8,100 TEU and approximately 20% compared with 2025.
Spread across the entire financial year, 5.67 million TEU were handled at the Port of Savannah – the region’s most important port. This figure is only slightly below the 5.7 million TEU recorded in the previous year. A total of 541,405 TEU were transported by rail via the ‘Mason Mega Rail’ terminal; this marked the third consecutive year that the rail network had exceeded the half-million mark. In the 2026 financial year, rail transport accounted for 17 per cent of total container throughput in Savannah, whilst the remainder was handled by lorry.
In May, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) opened the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port. This is an extension of the Port of Savannah connected to the rail network, serving the industrial and manufacturing hub in north-eastern Georgia.
“World-class infrastructure”
“Thanks to their first-class infrastructure and logistics capabilities, Georgia’s ports play a crucial role in attracting new businesses and creating new opportunities for Georgia’s hard-working people,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We are proud to recognise the GPA’s outstanding contributions to the economy of our state and the nation as a whole, and I would like to personally congratulate the new board members.”
Griff Lynch, who will remain as CEO of the GPA until next year, highlighted the port and inland infrastructure. These “mesh together superbly”, he said. “We would like to pay tribute to the entire team – the staff at Georgia Ports, Gateway Terminals and the ILA – whose dedication has earned us the support of our customers,” said Lynch.
GPA Chairman Alec Poitevint added: “We are growing organically and are seeing a shift in freight flows towards Savannah. Our $5 billion master plan for the ports is taking effect and is positioning us for the future.”
RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) cargo volume at the Port of Brunswick totalled 763,122 units in the 2026 financial year; of which 713,179 units were motor vehicles and 49,943 were heavy machinery. “Challenging global market conditions created headwinds in this sector,” the GPA reported. Volume fell by 12.4 per cent, or 107,650 units, compared with the previous year.
