The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is riding a wave of success, hitting record-breaking container volumes in February. But with shifting global trade policies and new tariffs on the horizon, how long can the momentum hold?
Savannah Sets Another Record
Savannah’s port is no stranger to growth, but February’s numbers still managed to impress. GPA handled nearly 480,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) — a 6% rise from February 2024. That’s the highest February volume in the port’s history.
CEO Griff Lynch didn’t hold back his optimism, predicting March would bring more strong numbers. “We’ve had an incredible run, and I think we will see some really good numbers in March,” he said. This comes on the heels of Savannah being named the fastest-growing port on the East Coast during the 2025 State of the Port address.
Growth Meets Reality
The streak of success hasn’t been without challenges. After March, Lynch expects volumes to slow — not due to faltering demand, but because sustaining such rapid growth is tough.
The port celebrated 12 straight months of growth last year. But Lynch cautioned that keeping up the pace isn’t easy. “We’ve had this pace now for almost a year and a half, and it’s tough to maintain that pace,” he said.
And it’s not just about pace. The global shipping landscape is shifting fast. Tariff policies, especially from President Donald Trump’s new administration, are a wild card. Canada and Mexico aren’t major users of Georgia’s ports, but China — a target of new tariffs — is a key player.
“We just don’t know where it’s going to land,” Lynch admitted, highlighting the uncertainty.
Auto Sales and Brunswick’s Mixed Picture
While Savannah is thriving, the Port of Brunswick tells a more complicated story. It recently became the world’s busiest roll-on/roll-off port, handling vehicles and heavy equipment. Yet, year-over-year volume is down 10% — a dip Lynch attributes to slowing auto sales.
Despite that, GPA remains upbeat. Auto volume for this fiscal year is still up 6%. So, while Brunswick faces some bumps, it’s far from struggling.
Speeding Up the Supply Chain
One big win for GPA is the expansion of work shifts. The Port of Savannah now has eight vessel start times — up from five — thanks to a new agreement with Gateway Terminals LLC and the International Longshoreman’s Association.
This change, long requested by GPA, aims to cut idle time and keep ships moving. “We want to make sure we are providing fluidity for our customers at every point in the supply chain,” Lynch said.
GPA is also introducing lay berths — a game-changer for managing dock traffic. These berths, located near Garden City Terminal, allow waiting ships to dock closer while they wait for a spot to open. Previously, vessels might wait up to 12 hours. With lay berths, that wait drops to three.
The first of these berths goes live in May.
