The Georgia Ports Authority announced that a record-breaking 830,000 automobiles were processed through the Port of Brunswick in the 2024 fiscal year, positioning it as a top U.S. auto port. In total, Brunswick and the Port of Savannah handled over 876,000 auto and heavy machinery units, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. CEO Griff Lynch expressed satisfaction with the achievements, calling it a successful year for the ports.
The surge in cars and light trucks passing through the Port of Brunswick is attributed to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As U.S. auto sales experienced a significant growth in 2023, Georgia made a substantial investment of $262 million in upgrades and expansions at Brunswick to accommodate the rising demand. Lynch mentioned that these projects are nearing completion and are expected to be finalized by autumn.
Lynch had previously predicted that by 2026, the automobile volumes at Brunswick would surpass the Port of Baltimore, the top U.S. seaport for autos for over a decade. The latest cargo data from Georgia indicates that Brunswick is already in close competition with the port in Baltimore, which reported handling 847,000 auto imports and exports in 2023.
The Port of Baltimore faced challenges when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March, resulting in temporary closure. During this period, Brunswick received around 14,000 cars and trucks that were diverted from Baltimore shipments. Lynch emphasized that while Brunswick aims to narrow the gap, they are not seeking the number one spot due to the unfortunate bridge incident in Baltimore.
Georgia has seen significant growth in the past year, partly due to automakers diverting their business to Brunswick from neighboring ports like Charleston, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. The state’s ambition to become a hub for electric vehicle production may lead to an increased flow of autos through Brunswick’s docks in the future. Despite upcoming plans for an EV plant by Hyundai near Savannah, Lynch mentioned that the focus initially will be catering to the U.S. market.
Additionally, the Georgia Ports Authority disclosed that the Port of Savannah managed 5.25 million container units in the latest fiscal year, a slight decrease of 2.3% from the previous year. Lynch noted that container volumes dipped in the latter part of 2023 due to retailers reducing new orders amid high inventories but have started to show signs of recovery in recent months.
