“This report confirms what we’ve seen for years: our Ports are exceptional drivers of job creation and economic activity, both in the booming coastal region and in communities across Georgia,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As we continue to invest in these unrivaled assets statewide and our broader logistics network, we will build on the positive momentum of recent years and further promote opportunities for hardworking Georgians. On behalf of a grateful state, I want to congratulate and thank all those who work for the ports system for making this another record-breaking year of economic benefit.”
“Every shipment through Savannah and Brunswick fuels Georgia’s economy, supporting businesses, families, and communities,” said Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports CEO.
Between FY2021 and FY2025, employment supported by port activity has increased by more than 44,500 jobs.
“Twelve percent of statewide employment, or almost one out of every eight Georgia jobs, is in some way dependent on the ports,” said Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business, who conducted the study.
The total economic impact of Georgia’s ports increased 4 percent or $7 billion in FY2025, compared to the previous fiscal year.
Port activity now supports $181 billion in annual sales across the state, according to the University of Georgia (UGA) study.
“Ports are economic engines, and our GPA employees and our valued partners in Gateway Terminals and the ILA are to be commended for their dedication and hard work contributing to Georgia’s strong economy,” said GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint.
Port customers, their suppliers, and the businesses supported by port-user payrolls now account for 12 percent of Georgia’s total output, up from 11 percent in FY2024.
Business conducted through the ports also results in $10 billion in federal taxes, $3 billion in state taxes, and $3 billion in local taxes.
The Port of Savannah is the busiest gateway for containerized trade on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, handling 5.67 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in FY2026. Savannah is one of the nation’s best-connected ports, offering 40 weekly vessel calls, direct interstate access, and 42 trains per week to inland destinations.
“Our mission is to empower businesses to thrive by providing the most cost-effective, reliable, and efficient port services in the country,” said Georgia Ports President Kevin Price. “When companies locate or expand in Georgia to take advantage of our supply chain, that means jobs and opportunities for Georgians.”
At the Port of Brunswick, Colonels Island Terminal is the nation’s busiest and fastest-growing auto port. Brunswick handles approximately 65,000 units of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo each month.
Georgia Ports is in the midst of a self-financed, $5 billion port and inland infrastructure plan, which will add five container berths in Savannah—the most at any US port—and one berth for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in Brunswick. The ten-year plan envisions 55 percent growth during this period.
