Port of Savannah volumes rose 18% in June

in Port News 30/07/2026

The Port of Savannah closed fiscal year 2026, which ran from July 1 to June 30, on a strong note, reporting 483,684 TEUs in June. That was an increase of nearly 73,300 TEUs, or 18%, compared with the same month a year earlier.

The monthly gain came as Georgia Ports Authority continued to add inland and road capacity around Savannah, including the Appalachian Regional Port in Northwest Georgia, which also set a record in FY2026 by handling 49,319 intermodal containers. That represented an increase of 20%, or more than 8,100 boxes, from FY2025.

In May, GPA opened the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port, a rail-connected extension of the Port of Savannah that serves the manufacturing and industrial hub of Northeast Georgia.

“Georgia’s ports have been a key asset in recruiting new business ventures and creating new opportunities for hardworking Georgians through the world-class infrastructure and logistics capabilities they provide,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We’re proud to recognize GPA’s incredible contributions to our state and national economies, and I want to personally congratulate their new Board Members.”

“We finished the fiscal year on a strong volume note. Our port and inland infrastructure are all coming together nicely. We want to recognize the Team – our Georgia Ports’ employees, Gateway Terminals and the ILA whose efforts earned our customers’ support,” said Griff Lynch, CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority.

“We are growing organically and seeing cargo shifting to Savannah,” added Alec Poitevint, Chairman of Georgia Ports Authority. “Our $5 billion port master plan is working and ready for the future.”

Cargo owners shipped 5.67 million TEUs across the Port of Savannah docks in FY2026, just below the 5.7 million TEUs handled in the previous year.

At Mason Mega Rail, GPA moved 541,405 containers by rail in FY2026, marking the third consecutive year above 500,000. Rail cargo accounted for 17% of Savannah’s total container trade during the year, with the remainder moving by truck.

Georgia Ports Authority also highlighted its long-term relationship with the Panama Canal Authority, signing a five-year extension to its Memorandum of Understanding. CEO Griff Lynch and the board hosted a dinner in Savannah for the administrator, Dr. Ricaurte Vasquez Morales.

“The Panama Canal plays an important role in our service level, market access and supply chain speed. We want to recognize and praise Dr. Ricaurte Vasquez Morales for his partnership, friendship and leadership at the helm these past seven years at the Panama Canal Authority,” Lynch said.

Brampton Road Connector opens

The Georgia Department of Transportation opened the Brampton Road Connector to port truck traffic on July 15, completing a major freight corridor serving the Port of Savannah. The $130 million, four-lane highway links Garden City Terminal’s Gate 3 directly to the interstate system, removes at-grade rail crossings on busy streets, and reduces truck traffic in nearby neighborhoods. The roadway is intended to provide faster, safer freight access and completes the final link for smoother cargo flows in Savannah’s beltway.

Other Georgia DOT projects serving the Savannah area include the expanded I-16/I-95 interchange. The $295 million project is designed to improve the safety and flow of commuters and cargo moving on and off both interstates. The state also recently announced a $468.35 million contract to widen an 18-mile section of I-16, expanding the highway from two to three lanes in each direction. The work includes replacing six bridges and widening six others along the route from I-95 to State Route 67.

Governor Kemp appoints board members

Martin “Trey” E. Kilpatrick III, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Georgia Power in Atlanta, was named a board member. Lauren Curry, Chief of Staff for Governor Kemp in Atlanta, will take Trey’s position as Ex-Officio. Board members Will McKnight of Augusta, Philip Wilheit Jr. of Gainesville and Joel Wooten of Columbus were reappointed. The board also nominated and elected Dave Cyr, President of Parrish Construction Group in Perry, Ga., as Secretary-Treasurer.

Brunswick handles 763,000 units of autos and machinery

The Port of Brunswick handled 763,122 units of roll-on/roll-off cargo in FY2026, including 713,179 autos and 49,943 units of heavy machinery. Challenging global market conditions created headwinds for the sector, and total volumes fell 12.4% year over year, or by 107,650 RoRo units.

In June, total RoRo volumes at Brunswick reached 58,599 units, down 8,257, or 12.4%, from June 2025. Heavy machinery accounted for 1,856 units in the month, up 276, or 17.5%, from the same period a year earlier.

Source: Georgia Ports Authority tweet