Drayage availability is one of our LFS pillars, even though, the industry news reports some limitations due to the pandemic.
Currently "Savannah volume down just 1% and total tonnage a record." according to Freightwaves.
A small dip can be a big win during a pandemic, when global supply chain disruptions have taken huge bites out of volumes at U.S. ports.
So the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announcement Monday that fiscal-year volume at the Port of Savannah was down by less than 1% compared to the previous year wasn’t bad news.
The Port of Savannah handled 4.44 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in fiscal year 2020, which ended June 30.
And the GPA found good news where it could. It said that despite coronavirus-caused supply chain disruptions, total tons crossing all its docks reached a record 37.77 million, up 0.6% or 223,000 tons compared to fiscal year 2019. Container tons grew 2% or 56,440 tons to hit another record with 33.5 million tons.
“Cargo volume reductions related to COVID-19 were offset by the strength of our export markets and record volumes earlier in the year,” GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch said.
Lynch said that even during challenging times, port activity coupled with ongoing expansion projects such as the harbor deepening and Mason Mega Rail have quickened the pace of commercial infrastructure investment.
The GPA operates the deepwater ports of Savannah and Brunswick as well as inland terminals in Chatsworth, Bainbridge and Columbus, Georgia.
Lynch cited a recent report from Colliers International that 5 million square feet of industrial space is under construction in the Savannah market. Savannah also is home to 74.4 million square feet of warehouse and manufacturing space.
Lynch said in April that the coronavirus pandemic was wreaking havoc on global supply chains — and taking chunks out of volumes at U.S. ports.
“The longer this goes, the longer it’s going to take to get the ship righted,” Lynch said then. “At minimum, you’re talking about three-quarters of a year before we start seeing some positive numbers again.”
GPA Board Chairman Will McKnight said Monday the Port of Savannah’s expanding footprint sets it apart.
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By: LFS Marketing
July 31, 2020
