Port of Savannah Achieves Record September with 504,015 TEUs Moved

The Port of Savannah moved 504,015 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the standard measure of container cargo, in September. The total marks a record for the month and a 3.7 percent increase over September 2025. This result extends a period of steady growth for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) as cargo owners prepare for the final stretch of the year.

September's performance brings Georgia Ports' fiscal year first quarter to more than 1.5 million TEUs, an increase of 40,560 TEUs, or 2.7 percent, over the same period last year. The quarter is the second-best in GPA's history, trailing only the first quarter of fiscal year 2023. Inland, the Appalachian Regional Port recorded a 13 percent increase in volumes for the quarter compared with the same period a year earlier.

Strong consumer spending and an extended peak season drove September's trade growth. Typhoon-related delays at Asian ports pushed peak shipping volumes later into the calendar, shifting demand into September.

Ocean carriers responded by relying on Savannah's fluid terminal operations and its proximity to major retail distribution centers. Imports led the gains, with loaded import containers rising 5.5 percent over September 2025. For retailers and manufacturers moving goods ahead of the holiday season, that capacity provided a dependable outlet as Asian schedules shifted.

"Thanks to our Georgia Ports employees, Gateway Terminals, and the ILA, we are providing world-class service to our customers while handling record volumes," said Griff Lynch, CEO of Georgia Ports Authority.

Infrastructure Investments Strengthen Capacity and Fluidity

GPA continues to expand the infrastructure behind its growth. The $1.6 billion renovation of Ocean Terminal is now more than 60 percent complete. Once finished, the project will raise the terminal's capacity from 200,000 TEUs to 1.75 million TEUs, adding significant room for future cargo growth.

"We know our customers have a choice, and we're thankful for their choosing Georgia Ports," said Kevin Price, President of Georgia Ports Authority. "The capital investments we've made are now paying off in service levels for our customers and fluidity for our trucking partners."

Landside access has improved as well. The Brampton Road Connector, a Georgia Department of Transportation project that opened in July 2026, created a third high-volume truck corridor to Gate 3 at Garden City Terminal. The route allows trucks to avoid local neighborhood roads and at-grade rail crossings, where tracks meet the road at street level. For shippers and the trucking partners serving them, that means a more direct path between the terminal and the wider highway network.

"This September performance speaks volumes about our team and shows Georgia Ports is the key gateway to Georgia and the Southeast," said Georgia Ports Authority Chairman Alec Poitevint. "I want to thank Gov. Kemp, the General Assembly, and Georgia Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry and his team for supporting a statewide logistics network that has helped make Georgia the best state to do business for 13 years in a row."

Conditions in the Panama Canal are also improving, a welcome sign for cargo owners routing goods to the U.S. East Coast. With the start of the rainy season, the Panama Canal Authority has reported better conditions at Lake Gatun, the reservoir that supplies water for canal operations.

On Oct. 15, the Canal Authority will return to its maximum of 10 daily transits for Neopanamax vessels, the largest ships able to pass through the canal's expanded locks. That change will bring total daily transits for all vessel sizes to 33. As of Sept. 28, the maximum draft, or the depth a vessel may sit below the waterline, for Neopanamax ships is 49 feet. Together, these updates point to greater predictability for all-water services between Asia and the East Coast.

The Port of Brunswick handled 43,415 units of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) cargo in September. RoRo cargo, such as vehicles and equipment, is driven on and off ships rather than lifted by crane. The total represents a 22 percent decrease compared with September 2025, as global market conditions for vehicle manufacturers remain competitive.

Heavy machinery told a different story. Brunswick moved 3,754 heavy machinery units in September, up from 3,359 a year earlier, an increase of nearly 12 percent.

With record September volumes, a near-record first quarter, and major capacity and road projects advancing, Georgia Ports enters the final months of 2026 well positioned to handle continued demand. For shippers, importers, and logistics providers planning year-end moves, the September results show a gateway built not only to absorb peak volumes but to keep cargo moving reliably through them.