The Port of Savannah handled 486,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units in September, an increase of 35,280 TEUs or 8% compared to the same month last year.

For the fiscal year to date (July 1-Sept. 30), Savannah's container trade is up 4.7% or 66,845 TEUs to nearly 1.5 million TEUs.

Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch noted that the port authority is focused on improving berth, rail, truck gate and container yard operations to maintain competitiveness.

"50-minute trucker turn times for dual moves at our gates and 22 hours average rail dwell are examples of operational metrics we're consistently delivering," Lynch, said.

GPA said September is its busiest for that month with total rail lifts, at 51,235 containers, up 21% or nearly 9,000 lifts compared to September 2024.

For the fiscal year to date, GPA achieved total rail lifts of nearly 150,000, an increase of 4.7%.

It added that the Appalachian Regional Port (ARP) set a record of 4,453 container lifts last month, an increase of 48% or 1,450 lifts. Since July, the ARP has handled 11,465 containers, up 1,340 or 13%.

Meanwhile, Port of Savannah noted that its Mason Mega Rail Terminal also had a strong performance, moving 46,782 containers, up 19% or 7,530 lifts in September.

Mason Mega Rail has moved more than 138,400 containers this fiscal year through September, an increase of 5,380 lifts or 4% compared to the same period a year earlier.

The Port of Savannah completed 316,889 truck gate transactions in September, counting both import and export container moves. Turn times for dropping off or picking up a single container averaged 32 minutes in September.

It said that dual export-import moves averaged 50 minutes. Dual moves, in which a driver drops off an export and picks up an import container, make up approximately 80% of truck transactions at the Port of Savannah, reducing trips and avoiding emissions.

GPA said truck drivers serving the Port of Savannah complete an average of six to eight turns per day, representing the industry’s best supply chain speed through a container port.

Meanwhile, GPA said construction of Berth 4 is ongoing with an expected completion in 2027.

"Market cycles are a normal part of business and reflected in supply chain flow. We’re focused on adding new berth capabilities to help our RoRo customers compete stronger in the future," Lynch added.