The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has announced that an all-time high of 519,390 TEU have moved through the Port of Savannah in May, breaking the previous record of 504,350 TEU set in October 2021.

GPA’s May volumes grew by 8.5%, or 40,770 TEU, compared to the same month last year.

“Despite global supply chain challenges, the Port of Savannah continues to be an economic driver, providing reliable, world-class service for port customers across our state and nation,” said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

GPA Executive Director, Griff Lynch noted Garden City Terminal is handling more business during the current influx of trade than during the previous spike, last fall. The additional trade is driven in part by vessels diverting to Savannah from other East and West Coast ports.

“The infrastructure improvements and pop-up yards approved by the GPA Board have enabled our operations to maintain the flow of cargo across our terminal, despite unprecedented container volumes passing through the port,” commented Lynch.

As of April, GPA has added 900,000 TEU of annual capacity to Garden City Terminal, while another 300,000 are expected to come online in July for a new total of more than 7 million TEU of container handling space.

Additionally, Phase I of the Garden City Terminal West expansion has added a 25-acre container yard adjacent to Ga. Highway 21, a principal truck route approaching the main terminal. Phase II will add up to 1 million TEU of annual capacity, which will begin coming online in 2023.

“By increasing container space at Garden City Terminal, GPA is accommodating the expansion in global commerce that supports job growth in Georgia,” said GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten.