Market share remains in the single digits —both as a percentage of overall reefer imports and exports in the US and overall volumes within the individual ports — but the port authorities of Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia say the US Department of Agriculture clearance will open the door to even more business opportunities.

The future looks bright in Savannah for beneficial cargo owners. Volume is increasing, market share is growing, and Georgia Ports Authority officials have a strong vision — including a bold TEU goal — to continue the upward momentum by expanding services and fixing its shortcomings to keep its place as the top port in the US Southeast.

The hurricane headed for the Carolinas as of Thursday, with the ports of Savannah and Virginia having reduced exposure.

An axiom argues, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and there’s no better example of that than what tight North American truck capacity has prompted.

In the United States’ tight surface capacity market, the operative phrase in supply chain management is “minimize the truck transport variable,” and Georgia’s new inland port, the Appalachian Regional Port, aims to do that, and more.

Keeping these projects funded and on schedule is important because beneficial cargo owners want to put their supply chains in markets ready for the future of ocean transportation — and that means being ready for mega-ships.

As with many other consumer industries, it’s not that the toy industry pie is shrinking, it’s merely being split differently.

US forest product and paper industry exports have rebounded, aided by eased environmental regulations.

When it comes to finished-automobile shipments, US South Atlantic ports are in a sweet spot. Regional population growth is boosting demand for imports, and new auto assembly plants are bolstering exports.

Beneficial cargo owners will have more options to import cargo from Asia with the Port of Savannah receiving two new services this year and the Port of Jacksonville receiving one.

Carriers’ refusal to reduce capacity on the verge of service contracting season has the east-bound Pacific looking at only minimal rate increases of perhaps $100 per FEU to the West Coast, and possible rate reductions to the East Coast.

After a substantial gain in 2017, retailers are forecasting another increase in US container import volume in 2018, as container lines and beneficial cargo owners prepare for annual trans-Pacific rate and service contract negotiations.

In the battle for Asia imports among US coasts, "those with capacity, including terminal, supply-chain and network capacity, are going win," according to a port executive director.

Savannah rail project promises two-day faster hinterland transits to Southeast and Midwest shippers.

During the last two decades, Georgia has encouraged development of import distribution centers that have attracted all-water services from Asia and made Savannah the second-largest US East Coast container port.

Analysts and transportation providers say Hurricane Irma, which followed hot on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, could have lasting impacts on truck rates and capacity through January 2018.

Ports from Miami to Charleston now lie in the Category 5 storm’s projected path.