January 30 - The Georgia Ports Authority ended 2014 with cargo traffic growth across all sectors, achieving a 7.4 percent year-on-year increase in total tonnage.
The Port of Brunswick continued its strong performance in auto and machinery trade, moving 688,575 units for the year. Combined with ro-ro trade through the Port of Savannah's Ocean Terminal, GPA moved 716,055 units in 2014, an 8.6 percent (57,190-unit) increase over 2013.
Breakbulk cargo, including forest products, iron and steel, improved by 12 percent to reach 2.74 million tonnes during 2014 through GPA gateways.
"In 2014, we saw phenomenal growth in every category," said GPA executive director Curtis Foltz. "Georgia's ports benefited from an improving retail economy, renewed strength in manufacturers' orders of raw goods, and the expanding population of the Southeast."
Counting containerised, bulk and breakbulk cargo, total tonnage reached 30.39 million tonnes, up 2.09 million for the calendar year.
During December 2014, GPA moved a record 68,684 automotive and heavy equipment units, for a year-over-year increase of 20.1 percent (11,507 units).
The strong performance realised by the GPA could be attributed to the labour disputes currently hampering some US West Coast ports, causing freight to be diverted to other gateways.
www.gaports.com
