The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) moved 5.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in fiscal year 2025, spanning July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025—an 8.6% increase over the previous year.
Despite persistent trade disruptions and global uncertainty, the year-over-year gain of 450,000 TEUs highlights the resilience of Georgia's port operations and growth in East Coast market share.
GPA said during the period, the Port of Savannah recorded its second busiest year ever. In the pandemic year of FY2022, GPA handled 5.76 million TEUs.
"Georgia Ports continues to grow U.S. East Coast market share, and with the shifting trade patterns in Asia and India, that bodes well for our future," said Griff Lynch, president and CEO of Georgia Ports.
Savannah's volume grew at a 4.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for fiscal year-to-date (FYTD) 2025 compared to FYTD 2016, while the entire U.S. container port market experienced a 2.7% CAGR during the same period.
"I would like to express my appreciation to our customers, our GPA employees, the ILA, our partners at Gateway Terminals, and the Georgia State Legislature for their contributions and support in delivering another successful year for the Georgia Ports Authority," said newly elected GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint.
The Port of Savannah moved 410,400 TEUs in June. Georgia Ports averaged more than 475,000 TEUs per month in the fiscal year just ended. March, April, and May each came in over 500,000 TEUs.
Meanwhile, the Port of Brunswick sees strong volumes, despite market volatility.
GPA noted that the Port of Brunswick handled 870,775 units of autos and heavy equipment in FY2025, which is flat compared to the previous year. Fiscal year 2024 was an all-time record year.
Port upgrades, investments
Meanwhile, GPA said in the statement that it will start construction in the current fiscal year on the new US$100 million Colonels Island Berth 4, designed to ensure future capacity keeps pace with demand when opened in 2027.
In the past decade, the Georgia Ports Authority has completed US$3.2 billion in port infrastructure projects. Over the next ten years, GPA plans to invest another US$4.5 billion in capacity improvements, which will see five big ship berths added in the next eight years.
GPA said this future big ship berth capacity expansion represents the largest of any U.S. port. Two big ship berths are being upgraded now in Ocean Terminal, and will be ready in 2027-2028.
Three big ship berths are planned for the Savannah Container Terminal from 2030-2034.
During fiscal year 2025, the GPA completed US$470 million in infrastructure projects, including a Roll-on/Roll-off expansion at Brunswick. The upgrades added 640,000 square feet of warehousing and 122 acres of storage to support auto and heavy equipment processing. In Savannah, modifications to Warehouse 83B at Garden City Terminal doubled the space for Customs inspections and expanded refrigerated cargo capacity.
Savannah also received eight new ship-to-shore cranes—now the largest on the U.S. East Coast—enhancing its ability to handle larger vessels. The GPA Board approved an additional US$472 million for new projects, including Phase 1 of the Colonel's Island Southside Rail expansion in Brunswick, which will double weekly train capacity and increase annual rail throughput from 150,000 to more than 340,000 vehicles.
Other approved projects include a fourth berth for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo at Brunswick's Colonel's Island Terminal and the redevelopment of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal, which will add 1.5 million TEUs of annual capacity and feature a new overpass connecting to Route 17 to reduce neighborhood traffic impact
In the past decade, GPA has invested US$3.2 billion in infrastructure. GPA anticipates investing US$4.5 billion in the next ten years as part of its port master plan to expand cargo handling capabilities and support future supply chain requirements.
