The Port of Savannah has seen continued investor interest and growth due to shifts in import volume towards the east coast. Savannah has proven to be a popular choice for importers during 2023, especially as the Panama Canal drought restrictions continue. The port and surrounding area are seeing millions of dollars in investment to grow volume capacity and inland transportation capabilities.
HISTORICAL VOLUMES FOR THE PORT OF SAVANNAH
October of 2023 was the fourth busiest month ever recorded for the Port of Savannah according to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) with 449,000 TEUs moving through the port. The container volume was down 22% from October of 2022, but the number of ships handled was up by 26% from October of last year. This was the first time in two and a half years that all berths available at the Garden City Terminal were open and handling vessels.
Savannah saw a year-over-year decrease in roll-on/roll-of (Ro/Ro) cargo during October of 5.8%; however, fiscal year-to-date the volumes were up 17%. Tightened capacity and availability of Ro/Ro vessels could be feeding into October’s decrease as some manufacturers, especially in the automotive industry, are opting to ship their products via containers rather than wait for Ro/Ro availability.
EASTERN US WAREHOUSING GROWTH
The increased interest in Savannah as a destination for imports has fed into the warehousing growth along the eastern seaboard of the United States. As companies continue to diversify their warehousing and distribution facility portfolios, eastern ports are expected to see continued growth to match the investments made into facilities.
Deliveries of new construction around Savannah totaled more than 6 million sqft in the Q3 of 2023, following the same trend from Q2. The area directly around the Port of Savannah accounts for 4.3 million sqft of the total 6 million.
GREEN SAVANNAH DISTRIBUTION FACILITY
In 2023, Green Worldwide Shipping opened a new warehousing and distribution facility just 14 miles from the Port of Savannah. This strategic location allows the facility to best serve 44% of U.S. consumers and manufacturers with nearby access to rail and road infrastructure. The Savannah warehouse acts as a deconsolidation point for cargo from northern Europe as well, providing importers with greater flexibility in transit options and rapid turnaround times for distribution.
Savannah is known as a hub for consolidators that serve multiple freight forwarders and shippers. In contrast, Green’s dedicated facility will allow companies to have greater control over their shipments. By utilizing a dedicated warehouse, importers and exporters will enjoy complete visibility, accurate order fulfillment, and more efficient operations to serve the end consumer.
NEED WAREHOUSING, DISTRIBUTION, CONSOLIDATION/DECONSOLIDATION, OR TRANSLOADING/CROSSDOCK SOLUTIONS IN SAVANNAH? Contact Green Worldwide’s freight experts at [email protected].
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