SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, U.S. — Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced on Aug. 2 that the GPA handled more than 2.63 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers), added new services and maintained its position as the fourth highest volume container port in fiscal year 2010.

For the month of June 2010, the GPA posted a 34% increase with 240,734 TEUs compared with 179,451 TEUs handled in June 2009.

"The second half of the year was particularly strong with signs of economic recovery, retail sector inventory replenishment and continued strong demand for U.S. produced products boosting export volumes," said Foltz. "The 9.7-percent increase in TEUs for the year allowed the GPA to fully recover from decreases experienced in FY2009 and return to the record levels reached in FY2008."

June was the third highest volume overall for the GPA in terms of both TEUs and containers moved. In June, the GPA moved 135,297 containers compared with 100,660 containers in June 2009. Also, during 2010, the GPA experienced a 9.7% increase in total TEUs and a 7.3% increase in total tonnage for all terminal facilities handling a total of 24,288,789 tons.

In Brunswick, the GPA surpassed 2.3 million tons, a 15.4% increase compared with the previous year. Autos and machinery units at Colonel’s Island Terminal totaled 332,100 units, posting a 16.2% increase compared with the previous year. These volume gains can be attributed to a number of factors including a renewed consumer market for automobiles and the addition of a Mercedes-Benz USA vehicle-processing center on Colonel’s Island Terminal, which opened in January.

Additionally, the Port of Brunswick recorded its best performance to date in the movement of agri-bulk cargoes in 2010, handling more than one million tons at Colonel’s Island Terminal, a 38.7% increase compared with 2009.

"I would like to thank the men and women of the GPA and the entire maritime community for making this remarkable year of growth a reality," said GPA Chairman of the Board Alec L. Poitevint. "The commencement of the Savannah Harbor Deepening Project will help ensure our future success."