Georgia Port Activity Supported 605,000 Jobs in FY2025
Statewide business operators should note how port expansions influence supply chain costs and local labor markets.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Transportation
Live Poll
Do you believe large-scale port expansions benefit the local economy in your area?
Georgia port activity generated $181 billion in annual sales during fiscal year 2025, supporting 605,000 jobs across the state. This impact represents 12 percent of total statewide employment, according to a study by the University of Georgia Terry College of Business.
Why it matters
The steady growth in port-supported economic activity, which increased by $7 billion in FY2025, signals a deepening reliance on coastal trade infrastructure for state business revenue. These figures illustrate the scale at which port operations drive tax generation and regional workforce demand.
Port activity generated $181 billion in annual sales and supported 605,000 jobs, marking a $7 billion increase in total economic impact compared to FY2024. The network facilitates 40 weekly vessel calls and handles 5.67 million container units at Savannah alongside 65,000 vehicles monthly in Brunswick.
The players
University of Georgia Terry College of Business
An academic institution that provides economic research and data analysis for state business stakeholders.
Port of Savannah
A major logistics hub that serves as the primary container trade gateway for Georgia's shipping operations.
Port of Brunswick
A specialized maritime facility serving as a critical import and export gateway for the automotive industry.
The details
The Georgia port system leverages direct interstate access and high-volume logistics networks, including 42 train movements per week, to sustain its throughput. To accommodate this volume, management has outlined a $5 billion self-financed investment program targeting both inland and coastal infrastructure. The plan includes the construction of five new container berths at the Port of Savannah and a fourth specialized berth for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in Brunswick.
Timeline
FY2024: Ports supported 11 percent of state economic output.
FY2025: Economic impact increased by $7 billion over the previous period.
FY2026: The Port of Savannah handled 5.67 million twenty-foot equivalent container units.
Market Landscape
This study quantifies the economic reach of the Georgia Ports Authority capital expansion initiatives as the system scales to accommodate rising throughput. The reported job figures reflect a continued trend of state-level economic dependency on major logistics gateways.
Business owners should monitor the $5 billion investment rollout to anticipate potential shifts in regional logistics capacity and transport costs. Assessing your firm's reliance on these terminals is critical as port throughput continues to drive significant portions of the local tax base.
The takeaway
The sustained growth in container and vehicle handling underscores the necessity of factoring port efficiency into your regional supply chain strategy. Monitor the development of the new Savannah container berths to assess when increased capacity may begin to affect shipping lead times.
Further reading
For more on infrastructure trends, see the Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hellenic Shipping News.
Live Poll
Do you believe large-scale port expansions benefit the local economy in your area?
