Georgia's ports are getting a $5 billion facelift over the next decade, with five new container berths planned for Savannah and a new Roll-on/Roll-off berth going up in Brunswick, as the state's auto-manufacturing sector keeps expanding. The investment comes as Hyundai, Kia, Rivian and Audi have all staked out ground in Georgia, pushing demand for port, rail and logistics capacity to new heights.
According to News4JAX, Georgia Ports Authority leaders laid out the plan at the authority's annual State of the Port of Brunswick event, where officials said the state's growing roster of automakers is fueling demand for port, rail and logistics infrastructure. Georgia Ports Authority President Kevin Price told attendees, “The automotive manufacturing ecosystem continues to grow here. We're also seeing strong growth in the heavy machinery market.”
Griff Lynch, the authority's CEO, framed the investment in terms of what it means for the broader economy, saying the ports are “enhancing long-term supply chain competitiveness on a state, regional, national and global level, generating new job growth.” Board member Alec Poitevint added that the ports are important to Georgia's economy and its ability to meet future demand.
A Growing Lineup of Automakers Anchors the Investment
Hyundai's 3,000-acre Metaplant near Ellabell, about 30 miles west of the Port of Savannah, is expected to create 8,500 jobs by 2031 and has already attracted 22 nearby suppliers, the station's report notes. Kia has operated its own U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point since 2009, giving Georgia a longer-running foothold in vehicle assembly even before the newer arrivals broke ground.
Rivian has started construction on a planned $5 billion manufacturing plant in Stanton Springs North that is expected to create 7,500 long-term jobs by 2030. Audi, meanwhile, plans to invest $4 billion in its first U.S. plant near Macon, projected to create about 4,500 jobs, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027 and production expected to start in the early 2030s, per the same account.
The Port of Brunswick already handles finished-vehicle shipments and processing for brands including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, offering services that range from vehicle imports and exports to distribution, parts warehousing, manufacturing and vehicle processing. The report describes Brunswick's supply chain as built around seaport access, dedicated rail infrastructure, interstate connections and proximity to southeastern markets.
Brunswick's Auto Trade Keeps Setting Records
Brunswick maintained its position as the nation's busiest port for automobiles in 2025, handling 779,000 units of autos plus more than 53,000 units of heavy machinery, according to the Georgia Ports Authority. The authority's ten-year plan calls for a new $100 million Roll-on/Roll-off berth in Brunswick as part of the broader $5 billion package, which also includes five additional container berths in Savannah.
Brunswick's existing three RoRo berths at Colonel's Island handled 50 vessels in October alone, as reported by gCaptain. A fourth RoRo berth there was 60% complete and scheduled to open in December 2027, built to accommodate vehicle carriers capable of transporting more than 10,800 car equivalent units. gCaptain also reported that the authority's board has approved $4.13 billion in infrastructure improvements over the preceding decade.
Savannah's Container Terminal Clears a Major Hurdle
Over in Savannah, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the Savannah Container Terminal permit after a three-year review, clearing the way for a 3.5 million TEU facility on Hutchison Island, the Georgia Ports Authority said. Construction on that terminal is scheduled to start in January 2028, and the expansion is designed to support the authority's projected 54 percent growth in container throughput over the planning horizon.
The scale of activity at Savannah already runs deep: the port sees 40 ship calls a week and 42 double-stack trains a week moving through the Mason Mega Rail facility, which handled a record 591,000 containers in 2025, according to FreightWaves. Daily truck gate activity is harder to pin down precisely — News4JAX reported 15,000 daily truck gate transactions, the Georgia Ports Authority's own release cited 14,000 truck gate moves daily, and FreightWaves put the figure at between 14,000 and 16,000 truck gate moves daily.
That truck traffic underpins a cost advantage researchers at Georgia Tech have flagged for shippers. Per FreightWaves, routing freight through Savannah saves shippers more than $1,000 per container when delivering to Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville, compared with West Coast gateways.
During Griff Lynch's tenure at the helm of Georgia Ports, revenues have increased 213%, container volumes are up 90%, and Roll-on/Roll-off volumes are up 60%, the authority said. Still, the fiscal year hasn't been without softness — Savannah handled approximately 4.7 million TEUs from July through April of fiscal year 2026, a decrease of 2.5 percent, or 118,422 TEUs, from the same period a year earlier.
Workforce Programs Round Out the Brunswick Event
Beyond the infrastructure numbers, Kevin Price used the Brunswick event to highlight community programs, including support for families affected by the Brantley County wildfires, a youth cop academy and an industry day for local students. He also pointed to the authority's YES+ program, launched in 2018, which offers recent high school graduates in the Brunswick area mentoring, apprenticeships and on-the-job port career experience.
