Savannah's container volumes increase 16.3pc in February

THE US port of Savannah, the US east coast port specialising Asian cargo through Panama and the Suez canals, has experienced a 16.3 per cent year-on-year increase in container volume in February totalling 235,665 TEU.


"Heavy volumes have been driven by ongoing market recovery and continued inventory replenishment," said Georgia Port Authority executive director Curtis Foltz. "Exports continue to outpace imports since the depth of the recession in 2009."


Said GPA chairman Alec Poitevint: "The continued growth at Savannah further highlights the need for the successful completion of the Savannah harbour expansion project."


Break bulk registered a 51.6 per cent increase in February with 177,073 tons handled during the month. Fiscal year-to-date break bulk tonnage increased 50.3 per cent compared with the previous fiscal year. The growth was driven by "significant" increases in export traffic through the GPA's Ocean Terminal facility in wood pulp, machinery and automobiles.


In 2010 the port of Savannah handled 8.6 per cent of US container cargo volume and 12.4 per cent of all US container exports, port authorities said.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)