Savannah sees record containers amid tariff frenzy

The biggest U.S. ports continue to benefit from the chaos in global trade.

The Port of Savannah saw its most successful April on record for container trade, moving 515,500 twenty-foot equivalent units, up 17%, or 74,500 TEUs, compared to April 2024.

It was the third consecutive monthly container record for Savannah following impressive performances in February, 480,000 TEUs, and March, 534,000 TEUs.

For the current fiscal year to date (July 2024-April 2025), the port has handled 4.8 million TEUs, reflecting an 11% growth of 483,000 TEUs over the same period the previous fiscal year.

In a release, Georgia Ports Authority President and Chief Executive Griff Lynch said it was “business as usual” during accelerated frontloading by shippers. He said the tariff situation “will settle down,” and that the agency is already seeing an uptick in business in the coming months.

Strong rail performance indicates shifting trade patterns

The Mason Mega Rail facility handled over 50,000 rail lifts in April, an 8% year-on-year increase of approximately 3,700 lifts compared to April 2024. This growth indicates that cargo is being diverted back to the U.S. East Coast and Gulf routes.

Meanwhile, the Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County, Georgia, set its own record with 4,241 lifts in April, a significant 49% increase of 1,400 additional lifts over the previous year.

New infrastructure developments enhance efficiency

During the GPA’s monthly board meeting, Lynch announced that a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection warehouse will become operational at Garden City Terminal in July 2025. This $44.5 million facility will more than double the agency’s previous space to 300,000 square feet. The warehouse will feature refrigerated container plug-ins and an indoor refrigerated section designed for inspecting agricultural imports.

Lynch emphasized that the on-terminal location provides significant advantages to customers, eliminating the need to move containers off-port for inspection.

Ro/ro expansion approved

The GPA board has approved the construction of a fourth berth for roll-on/roll-off cargo at the Port of Brunswick’s Colonels Island Terminal. The $99.8 million project will begin construction in mid-2025 with an expected completion date 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 agency on May 2 completed construction of a new railyard on the south side of Colonels Island, effectively doubling the port’s rail capacity for inland connectivity. Notably, more than 90% of vehicles moving by rail at the Port of Brunswick are U.S.-made exports.

Brunswick handled nearly 63,000 ro/ro units in April, showing a 22% decline y/y. That followed an exceptional March performance when ro-ro increased 18% to 91,360 units y/y as manufacturers rushed orders to Brunswick.

Colonels Island Terminal has processed approximately 724,000 units of autos and heavy equipment in fiscal year 2025 to date, up 2% y/y.

Brunswick solidified its position as the nation’s busiest ro-ro terminal for autos and heavy equipment in 2024, handling more than 900,000 units. The GPA recently completed $262 million in capacity expansions there.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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