SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Georgia Ports Authority says it had its “busiest April ever for container trade.”
The GPA says it moved 515,500 twenty-foot equivalent container units last month.
“The Port of Savannah achieved an increase of 74,500 TEUs or 17 percent compared to the same month last year,” the release stated.
Mason Mega Rail handled intermodal volumes in April with over 50,000 rail lifts, an increase of about 3,700 lifts or 8 percent year-on-year compared to April 2024 which indicates cargo is being diverted back to the U.S. East Coast and Gulf. The Appalachian Regional Port handled a record 4,241 lifts in April, up 1,400 or 49 percent.
“Manufacturers’ retailers and agribusiness continue to choose Georgia’s ports to serve customers across the Southeast and the world,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch. “Our operations remain business-as-usual with some customers front-loading supply chains to avoid disruption. With the latest news on tariffs, we’re optimistic the situation will settle down and cargo will continue to flow through Savannah and Brunswick. We’re already seeing an uptick in business for the months ahead.”
April was the third monthly container record in a row for Savannah. Garden City Terminal handled nearly 480,000 TEUs in February and 534,000 TEUs in March. For the fiscal year to date (July 1, 2024-April 30, 2025), the Port of Savannah has moved 4.8 million TEUs, an increase of 11 percent or 483,000 TEUs compared to the same period in FY2024.
Lynch also reported to the board that a new U.S. Customs inspection warehouse will come online in July 2025 on Garden City Terminal, more than doubling the agency’s previous space to 300,000 square feet. The $44.5 million facility will also feature refrigerated container plug-ins and an indoor refrigerated section for inspecting agricultural imports. He said the on-terminal site saves customers time and money, because containers do not have to be moved off-port for inspection.
Brunswick to add fourth berth
Also at the meeting, the GPA board approved a fourth berth for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo at the Port of Brunswick’s Colonels Island Terminal. Construction will start mid-2025 and the $99.8 million project is expected to be completed in 2027.
“As we expand our south side yard capabilities, we are matching our berth 4 capabilities to create a seamless interface from berth to yard for customers,” Lynch said.
The Port of Brunswick handled nearly 63,000 units of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in April, a decline of 22 percent or 17,656 units from the same month a year ago. Many auto and heavy equipment manufacturers rushed orders to Brunswick in March, when GPA handled 91,360 RoRo units, up more than 18 percent or 14,000 units compared to March 2024.
For fiscal year 2025 to date, Colonels Island Terminal in Brunswick has handled approximately 724,000 units of autos and heavy equipment, an increase of 2 percent or 14,400 RoRo units compared to the same period in FY2024.
The Port of Brunswick was the nation’s busiest Roll-on/Roll-off terminal for autos and heavy equipment in 2024, handling more than 900,000 RoRo units. At 1,700 acres, Colonels Island Terminal provides more room to grow than any other U.S. RoRo port. Georgia Ports recently completed $262 million in capacity expansions in Brunswick.
On May 2, 2025, GPA completed construction of a new railyard on the south side of Colonels Island, doubling the port’s rail capacity for inland connectivity. More than 90% of vehicles moving by rail at the Port of Brunswick are U.S.-made exports.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
