The Appalachian Regional Port in northwest Georgia moved a record 49,319 intermodal containers over the fiscal year, up 20 per cent, or more than 8,100 boxes, on FY2025.

In May, GPA opened the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port, a rail-connected extension of Savannah serving the manufacturing and industrial base of northeast Georgia.

Across the full fiscal year, Savannah handled 5.67 million TEUs, just shy of the 5.7 million recorded the previous year. Rail continues to play a growing role in the port’s operations: GPA moved 541,405 containers via Mason Mega Rail in FY2026, the third consecutive year above the half-million mark, with rail now accounting for 17 per cent of the port’s total container trade, the remainder moving by truck.

Griff Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia Ports Authority, credited the workforce for the result: “We finished the fiscal year on a strong volume note. Our port and inland infrastructure are all coming together nicely. We want to recognise the Team, our Georgia Ports’ employees, Gateway Terminals and the ILA whose efforts earned our customers’ support.”

Alec Poitevint, Chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority, pointed to the port’s ongoing $5 billion master plan: “We are growing organically and seeing cargo shifting to Savannah. Our $5 billion port master plan is working and ready for the future.”

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Further upgrades are underway nearby, including the $295 million expansion of the I-16/I-95 interchange and a $468.35 million contract to widen an 18-mile stretch of I-16 from two to three lanes in each direction between I-95 and State Route 67, involving six bridge replacements and six widenings.

Governor Brian Kemp also confirmed new appointments to the GPA board: Martin “Trey” E. Kilpatrick III, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Georgia Power, joins the board, while Lauren Curry, Chief of Staff to Governor Kemp, takes on the Ex-Officio role previously held by Kilpatrick. Board members Will McKnight, Philip Wilheit Jr. and Joel Wooten were reappointed, and Dave Cyr, President of Parrish Construction Group, was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

Kemp said: “Georgia’s ports have been a key asset in recruiting new business ventures and creating new opportunities for hardworking Georgians through the world-class infrastructure and logistics capabilities they provide. We’re proud to recognise GPA’s incredible contributions to our state and national economies, and I want to personally congratulate their new Board Members.”

Georgia Ports Authority – https://gaports.com/