Georgia Ports Authority, 22% Growth for August

Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced the GPA experienced 22% container growth in August and has recorded nine consecutive months of double-digit growth.

“August represented the second highest total containers handled through our ports, and the month’s total volume was only slightly behind the record set in July 2010,” said Foltz. “Container volumes remained strong as the retail sector moved holiday goods earlier due to concerns about both vessel capacity and equipment availability overseas going into the traditional peak shipping season.”

In August 2010, the GPA moved 139,281 containers, which was a 22% increase compared with 114,162 containers moved in August 2009. Overall tonnage yielded 2,069,501 tons, which was a 10.2-percent increase compared with August 2009.

“Market conditions seem to be moderating somewhat from the prior six months and are expected to steadily decline through mid-year 2011, as retailers’ slow inventory replacements and global demand for raw materials reduce,” said Foltz. “There are signs of significant moderation in demand beyond October and through mid-year 2011 as the U.S. economy struggles to recover.”

In Brunswick, the GPA handled 33,828 auto units in August 2010, which was an increase of 55.5 percent compared with August 2009. The Ro/Ro growth at the Port of Brunswick was due to increases of 66-percent in imports, 24-percent in exports and 96-percent in heavy machinery compared with August 2009. These volume gains were attributed to a renewed consumer market for automobiles and increased sales. Vessel calls were up 61.5 percent in August 2010 due to Mercedes-Benz USA’s new processing center at Colonel’s Island Terminal bringing three new steamship lines, NYK K-Line and MOL, to the Port of Brunswick.