{"id":691,"date":"2018-04-17T08:50:51","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T13:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=691"},"modified":"2018-04-17T08:50:51","modified_gmt":"2018-04-17T13:50:51","slug":"gpa-grows-trade-market-share","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=691","title":{"rendered":"GPA GROWS TRADE, MARKET SHARE"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"GPA<\/div>\n

GPA GROWS TRADE, MARKET SHARE<\/h1>\n

INTERMODAL VOLUME UP 20 PERCENT<\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\n

Rubber tired gantry cranes handle cargo at the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Ports Authority\u2019s Mason Mega Rail project will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year by 2020. Find print quality images\u00a0<\/b>here<\/a>. (Georgia Ports Authority)<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Savannah, Ga. \u2013 April 13, 2018 \u2013\u00a0<\/b>The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers. For the fiscal year to date (July-March), TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSavannah\u2019s continued strength is a reflection of our customers\u2019 commitment, Georgia\u2019s leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things,\u201d said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. \u201cMarch marked our 17th<\/sup>\u00a0consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Intermodal rail volumes jumped by 20 percent in March and 15.4 percent for the fiscal year to date, for a total of 318,454 containers handled over nine months \u2013 another record for the GPA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade,\u201d GPA Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. \u201cThis is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The GPA recently broke ground on its Mason Mega Rail Terminal, on which the Port of Savannah will build 10,000-foot unit trains within its own footprint. From the expanded rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, Class I rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern will provide direct rail service to major Southeast and Midwestern markets from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago to Cincinnati. An added benefit is that the Mason Mega Rail project will move all rail switching on terminal \u2013 improving vehicle traffic flow around the port.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County, Ga. Located in an industrial belt, including the production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, the ARP will provide an alternative to all-truck transit to Northwest Georgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Each round-trip container moved via the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.\u00a0<\/p>\n

March was also a strong month for roll-on\/roll-off auto and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel\u2019s Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal added 4,050, for a total 70,194, a 17.2 percent increase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cAs existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia\u2019s competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lynch noted that for the fiscal year to date, Mayor\u2019s Point breakbulk terminal in Brunswick grew by 44 percent (34,515 tons) to reach 112,728 tons of forest products. At East River Terminal, bulk cargo expanded by 34 percent July-March (189,918 tons) for a total of 750,384 tons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find print-quality images of port operations\u00a0<\/i>here<\/i><\/a>. Georgia\u2019s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 439,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $25 billion in income, $106 billion in revenue and $2.9 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.<\/i><\/p>\n

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or\u00a0<\/b>rmorris@gaports.com<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n