Georgia Ports Authority forecast 15 percent Southern Hemisphere citrus surge
As citrus season begins in the Southern Hemisphere, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) released a statement projecting a 15 percent increase in citrus imports this season.
Savannah and Brunswick ports now offer new shipping routes connecting West and South Africa to Savannah, with a 26-day transit time.
Georgia Ports Authority's CEO, Griff Lynch, states that the ports are prepared for initial arrivals from South Africa, South America, and other regional markets, expected to begin in May and June.
“This year, we will be serving a broader portfolio of citrus customers and cold chain shippers,” Lynch adds. “We’ve added new vessel services to citrus markets, and we have a new $4.5 million temperature-controlled, CBP inspection site opening in June, which is on our Garden City Terminal for ease of use.”
Georgia Ports chilled amenities
US Customs and Border Protection operations at the Port of Savannah will expand to include a 4,000-square-foot refrigerated space for inspections of chilled cargo. This will allow produce importers to choose on-port or off-dock inspections at refrigerated warehouses.
This feature is part of a new 300,000-square-foot facility at Garden City Terminal, which opened in February and is being expanded to support temperature-controlled cargo requiring inspections by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Related stories:
Subscribe to our newsletter
