SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Georgia Ports Authority welcomed the announcement of a new trade agreement between the U.S. and India, opening the way for increased business between the two countries, as outlined in a media release issued this week.
“This is excellent news for American exporters and consumers, for Georgia and for our customers,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch. “GPA has long thought India will be the key to our future success with the market proximity our U.S. East Coast gateway port offers. In time, this will bring more volumes to Georgia Ports.”
Georgia Ports handled 22 percent of India’s containerized trade on the U.S. East Coast in fiscal year 2025. Savannah’s overall loaded container trade with India grew by nearly 48 percent to 304,450 twenty-foot equivalent container units FY2021-2025, according to its release.
A Growing Economy
With India set to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2026, the country holds major trade potential for American shippers. Home to nearly 1.5 billion people, India is already the world’s most populous country. Sixty-five percent of the population is under age 35. India and the U.S. are both democracies, English-speaking and offer huge economic potential. “Sourcing from India helps U.S. companies diversify their supply chains and offers a cost competitive procurement strategy,” Georgia Ports’ release stated. “India is expected to outpace other Asian nations this year, with a projected GDP growth of 6.5 percent in 2026, according to the World Bank.”
Faster Connections
The Port of Savannah offers faster total transit times for Indian cargo destined for markets such as Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville, compared to West Coast gateways. Ocean routes are shorter from India to the U.S. East Coast, and Savannah delivers faster rail service.
Six weekly vessel services provide direct Savannah–India connections, with a total of 10 services linking Savannah to the broader Indian subcontinent. Eleven ocean carriers operate on these routes, delivering transit times as short as 29 days. Direct services call Nhava Sheva/Mumbai, Pipavav and Hazira with additional port calls on the Indian subcontinent, including Colombo, Sri Lanka.
With Savannah’s industry-leading speed to U.S. rail of 22 hours, cargo is discharged from vessels on day one, placed on rail by day two, and available at many inland destinations by day three. The Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal handles 42 trains per week, with double-stack rail service from CSX and Norfolk Southern to all major inland markets.
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.
