The Port of Savannah exported a record number of containers in the 2008 fiscal year ended June 30, anchoring a year of unprecedented growth in total container traffic and tonnage for Georgia’s ports.

Georgia ports this year handled 2.6 million 20-foot containers, or TEUs, 14.9 percent more than in 2007 and the largest yearly volume ever, according to data released July 29 by the Georgia Ports Authority.

Total tonnage for all terminals, including Bainbridge, Brunswick, Columbus and Savannah, increased by 17.5 percent, another state record.

Savannah’s port for the first time exported more than 1 million TEUs, taking advantage of the relatively weak U.S. dollar and increased buying power in emerging markets.

“In addition to exporting more cargo than ever before to the Far East and Mediterranean we added significant new export market share to the India Subcontinent,” said Doug Marchand, the ports authority’s executive director, in a press release.

India was the state’s fastest-growing export market for the year, with Vietnam not far behind.  India received 18,335 containers from Georgia, representing growth of 251.4 percent.  The state sent 11,149 TEUs to Vietnam, also about two-and-a-half times more than last year.

Containers sent to China, the state’s top export market by traffic, grew by nearly 24 percent to 175,000. 

Exports to South Korea, the second-largest destination for Georgia exports, dropped by 6.5 percent to 60,875.

Japan, Turkey and Italy—Nos. 3, 4 and 5—posted growth of 19.6, 48.8 and 48.8 percent, respectively.

Wood pulp and paper products remained the top two export product categories.