The Georgia Ports Authority’s cargo volumes fell 8% year-over-year in September, handling nearly 403,000 total TEUs.
Despite the YoY decline, last month was the port's busiest September ever outside of pandemic-driven spikes in volume, according to the port’s press release.
Volumes were driven by an increase in auto and machinery shipments at the Port of Brunswick, such as computer chips which previously stymied auto production, Georgia Ports CEO and President Griff Lynch said in a press release.
"The numbers point to growth related to added customers and increased volumes from existing port users," Lynch said. "Shipping line CMA-CGM started a new short-sea service carrying vehicles from Mexico to the Port of Brunswick in July, and the Gold Star shipping line starts a similar Mexico-to-Brunswick route in November."
To accommodate growing demand for auto and machinery shipments, Georgia Ports Authority is developing a 122-acre roll-on/roll-off cargo storage space and expanding its auto and machinery processing space across five new buildings, according to the release.
The port declined to share its total loaded and empty TEUs for the month of September.
Despite some lower YoY volumes, the port saw a 9% increase compared to 2019 at 370,000 total TEUs in the same month. Although, last month, the port processed 413,294 total TEUs, reflecting a 2.5% MoM decrease.
