Record amount of cargo passes through Ga. ports

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- A record 2.4 million tons of cargo moved through the state's ports in April, Georgia Ports Authority officials announced Monday.

April's record is an increase of about 108,530 tons over the same time period last year. In a release, GPA officials said the state's ports also saw a 4 percent increase in container traffic and a 14.1 increase in roll on/roll off cargo in April.

The state's drawing power in the shipping industry has been bolstered by companies like Haier appliances, Kent bicycles and Pep Boys recently choosing to ship goods through the Port of Savannah, GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz said in a statement.

"We are seeing strong performance because cargo owners know they can get their goods to market faster when they come through Georgia," GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson said in a statement. "Our streamlined service on-port, combined with better connections to the hinterlands by road and rail, make our deepwater ports the obvious choice for global trade."

The state's ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs in Georgia and have an annual economic impact of about, $ 87.9 billion in income, revenue and taxes, GPA officials said. In fiscal year 2011, the Port of Savannah was the second busiest container port exporting American goods.