Brunswick Port Scored Record Annual Tonnage

The Colonel’s Island Terminal in the Port of Brunswick recorded its highest tonnage volume ever in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, as agri-bulk and automobile shipments rebounded from the 2009 recession.

“The Port of Brunswick experienced a remarkable recovery in fiscal 2010,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director in his State of the Port speech Wednesday.

He said the 26.2-percent increase in total annual tonnage of 1.672 million tons compared with the previous year allowed the GPA to surpass the record levels reached in fiscal 2008 and continue its momentum gaining market share across the Southeast.

By The Numbers: Containerized Ocean Trade - Georgia & South Carolina Ports.

In fiscal 2010, GPA posted its best year ever for agri-bulk, exporting more than 1 million tons, which was up 37 percent from fiscal 2009. Soybeans, a strong export to Asia, nearly doubled with a 93-percent increase compared with fiscal 2009. Other commodities included soybean meal, barley malt and wheat.

During fiscal 2010 the GPA posted a 16-percent increase in auto and machinery units handled with a total of 332,100 units.

The GPA said Brunswick increased its U.S. East Coast market share for autos by 66 percent and its total U.S. market share by 72 percent in the last three years, making it the sixth-largest auto port in the country.

Mercedes-Benz USA opened a facility at the Port of Brunswick in January 2010, becoming the second vehicle processing center on the south side of Colonel’s Island Terminal.

The new Mercedes facility brought three ocean carriers, NYK, MOL and K-Line, to start serving the port regularly.

-- Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com.