Georgia ports break container tonnage record in April

Georgia ports break container tonnage record in April    The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said April was a record month for container tonnage, with 1.22 million container tons moved across its docks, an 11.7-percent increase over the same month in 2004.
   Container throughput in units at its ports in April increased 12.8 percent to 153,897 TEUs.
   Doug J. Marchand, GPA’s executive director said demand for Georgia products is strong, especially from China. “As a result of an ever-increasing purchasing power and higher standard of living, there is a strong demand in China for Georgia’s forest products, kaolin clay, poultry, and other exports,” Marchand said.
   In 2004, the port of Savannah exported 130,612 TEUs to China, a 21.3-percent increase from the previous year.
   GPA operates the deepwater ports in Savannah and Brunswick, along with inland barge operations in Bainbridge and Columbus.