Georgia’s ports support 605,616 full and part-time jobs at businesses across the state, yielding US$ 44 billion in annual income, according to the latest study from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
Total economic impact grew 4 percent or US$ 7 billion in fiscal year 2025 compared to the previous year, with port activity now supporting US$ 181 billion in annual sales statewide.
The study, conducted by Jeff Humphreys, Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the Terry School of Business, found that approximately 12% of statewide employment, or nearly one in every eight Georgia jobs, is in some way dependent on port activity.
Port customers, their suppliers and businesses supported by port-user payrolls now account for 12% of Georgia’s total output, up from 11% in fiscal year 2024.
Between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, employment supported by port activity increased by more than 44,500 jobs. Port-related business activity generates US$ 10 billion in federal taxes, US$ 3 billion in state taxes and US$ 3 billion in local taxes annually.
The Port of Savannah, the busiest gateway for containerised trade on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, handled 5.67 million TEUs in fiscal year 2026, supported by 40 weekly vessel calls, direct interstate access and 42 weekly trains to inland destinations.
The Port of Brunswick’s Colonels Island Terminal is the nation’s busiest and fastest-growing auto port, handling approximately 65,000 units of RoRo cargo each month.
Georgia Ports is executing a self-financed US$ 5 billion infrastructure plan that will add five container berths in Savannah, the most at any US port, and one RoRo berth in Brunswick, envisioning 55% capacity growth over ten years.
Governor Brian Kemp and GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint both highlighted the ports as exceptional drivers of job creation and economic activity, while GPA President Kevin Price emphasised the ports’ mission of providing cost-effective, reliable and efficient services that attract business investment and create opportunities for Georgians.
