Tariff Drama Fuels Major Growth at the Port of Savannah
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Retailers rushing to stock inventory ahead of looming tariff hikes gave the Port of Savannah a powerful boost—making it the second‑busiest year in its history.
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the port handled a whopping 5.7 million container units, both imports and exports. That represents an 8.6% increase over the prior fiscal year and puts it just shy of its all‑time high of 5.76 million container units logged in fiscal 2022.
The frenzy traces back to President Trump’s return to office in January, with promises of steep tariffs targeting China and other trading partners. That strategy sparked a wave of advance stocking by U.S. retailers.
Spring saw massive growth at the Port of Savannah—March volumes jumped 22.5%, hitting 533,995 units, and stayed north of 500,000 monthly units through May.
But June delivered a reality check: volumes dipped 9.6% compared to a year earlier, underscoring the unpredictable impact of shifting tariff policies.
Georgia Ports Authority CEO Griff Lynch summed it up: “This is going to be a roller‑coaster until things stabilize,” though he praised the administration’s deal with the EU as a hopeful sign.
Savannah wasn’t alone in riding the tariff‑driven wave.
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The Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s busiest shipping gcontainer port, closed fiscal year 2025 with 10.5 million container units—a 14% year‑over‑year spike, including its busiest June on record.
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The Port of New York and New Jersey, the largest shipping container port on the East Coast, saw container volumes rise 6.5% from January through May compared to the same stretch last year.
The National Retail Federation, meanwhile, expects a double‑digit drop in U.S. container shipments from August through November—warning of a volatile second half of the year.
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