Doug J. Marchand, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), announced at a recent meeting of the Board of Directors the Authority had posted double digit growth in all key business segments for January.
"The robust growth being experienced across all major business segments indicates that Georgia's economy is surging forward," said Marchand. "The demand for Georgia products abroad continues to have a significant economic impact here at home with kaolin clay and paper products leading the way."
GPA's monthly results show 79,171 teus were exported from GPA's facilities during January '05, a 19.70% increase over January 2004.
During the Board Meeting, Marchand also announced total containers, total TEU's and total tonnage at all terminals had experienced impressive gains. Records show a total of 150,626 teus were handled during January 2005, a 20.5% increase over January 2004; a total of 84,106 containers were handled, a 21.2% increase; and, 1,625,518 total tons were handled, a 24.7% increase. Additionally, the Port of Brunswick's Colonel's Island facility experienced a 16.4% increase in auto and machinery units handled during the month of January, Marchand said.
"The numbers clearly show GPA's momentum of growth and positive economic impact continues to build," said Marchand. "At the same time, we are aggressively working on two major terminal expansion programs."
Marchand reported to the Board the dock for Container Berth 8 is now 50% complete and is on schedule and on budget for Phase 1 completion by January 2006. The paving and overlay program, a comprehensive program transforming the Garden City Terminal from a chassis to a stacked operation, is also well on its way to completion; paving improvements at Container Berth 1 are now complete and within budget.
Marchand further noted the addition of two new shipping services in the past month, the All-Water East Coast Service (AWE4), and the NYK and Hapag-Lloyd North/South service between the US East Coast and East Coast South America, have further expanded GPA's container trade with Asia and South America.
