Industries

Logistics & Distribution

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A Hot Spot for Logistics and Distribution

Fueled by the Port of Savannah, the distribution sector of Savannah’s economy is booming. The world’s largest distributors, from manufacturers to large-scale retailers, have facilities in Savannah including The Home Depot, IKEA, Dollar Tree, Target, Floor and Decor, Wayfair and more.
#1

largest single container terminal and fastest-growing container terminal in the nation

GA Ports Authority, 2023

2

Class I railroads
on terminal at the
Port of Savannah

GA Ports Authority, 2023

3rd

busiest container gateway in the nation

GA Ports Authority, 2023

Distribution Centers Savannah

Savannah is ideally located on the Atlantic Ocean in the southeastern part of the U.S., which puts 70 percent of the U.S. population within a two-day drive by road, water, rail or air. More than three million square feet of distribution center space is available within a 30-mile radius of the Port of Savannah.

Air

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, conveniently located off of I-95, is Georgia’s second-busiest airport with more than 40 direct daily flights. Direct connections to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest and most efficient passenger airport, quickly puts you in touch with the world.

Warehousing

In addition to its operational advantages, there is also more than three million square feet of warehouse space available within 30 miles of the Port of Savannah as well as 1.4 million square feet of covered storage with adjacent rail. The Port of Savannah also features the largest concentration of retail import distribution centers on the East Coast.

Road

Travel by roadway is made easy thanks to Savannah’s connectivity to the most extensive surface transportation network in the U.S. That includes major interstates I-16 and I-95, giving drivers easy access to the entire East Coast. Regionally, 64 percent of commutes are less than 30 minutes.

Rail

Two Class one railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, further enhance Savannah’s connectivity with the added benefit of service to the Port of Savannah on terminal. Overall, the state of Georgia has 24 short-line rail companies covering 5,000 miles of track. Future plans at the Port of Savannah include a $128 million project that will link two rail yards, improve efficiency and grow rail lift capacity to about one million containers each year.

Water

The most impressive attribute of Savannah’s logistics landscape is the Port of Savannah. Not only is the Port the largest single-terminal container facility of its kind in North America, it is also the fastest-growing and fourth-busiest container port in the nation. Most recently, the Georgia Ports Authority moved 33.4 million tons of cargo, 3.8 million 20-foot equivalent containers and more than 600,000 auto and machinery units in the span of one year. Future growth includes expansion of roads, rail, and cranes. Georgia Ports Authority also recently completed the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, which deepened the harbor to 47 feet, in early 2022.


Leading Employers in this Industry

Legend: Headquarters in Savannah headquarter International international

Logistics and Distribution Employers Product/Service
Agro Merchants international Cold Storage
California Cartage Company Warehousing for K-Mart
Chatham Steel Corporation headquarter Steel service center
Chemical South Transport headquarter Transport of Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Chemicals
Coastal Logistics Group headquarter Manufacturing Support, Distribution Support, Specialized Port, and Packing & Crating Services
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United headquarter Soft drink/water bottling warehouse and distributor
Colonial Group Inc. headquarter Storage and distribution of petroleum product and petrochemicals
Cross Dock USA, Inc. headquarter Crossdocking, Distribution, Trucking, Consolidation
Dollar Tree Distribution of various products
DSI Logistics headquarter Distribution of various products
Floor and Decor Flooring Distributor
Fulfillment.com headquarter E-commerce
Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) headquarter Shipping terminal, service provider
Gulf States Cold Storage Cold Storage for Frozen Consumable Goods
The Home Depot Home improvement supplies distribution center
IKEA Wholesale, Inc. international Furniture distribution
LST Logistics Specialized heavy haul carrier
Noble House Home Furnishings Home furnishings
OA Logistics international Home bedding and pet beds
Ocean Link, Inc. headquarter Transport Services for Domestic and International Shippers
ONL-RBW Logistics Warehousing and Distribution services
Outsource Logistics Warehousing and Distribution services
Port City Logistics headquarter Warehouse space and transportation services logistics company
Safavieh international Home furnishings Distributor
Schneider Logistics headquarter Warehousing, distribution and export packaging
Shaw Industries Group Inc. [icone globe] Warehouse and Distribution of carpeting, wood flooring and tile
Target Distribution center for various products
United Distributors Inc. Beverage distribution
Walmart Warehousing and Distribution of various products
Wayfair Warehousing and Distribution of various products

*Not an all-inclusive list

Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ)

The Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) program expedites and encourages foreign commerce by lowering the costs of U.S. based operations engaged in international trade thus providing a secure, efficient and profitable way to compete effectively in domestic and global markets. World Trade Center Savannah is the grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 104.

The FTZ program allows the U.S. to achieve its trade policy goals, including export promotion, while at the same time supporting domestic job growth and economic development.

To learn more about FTZ 104 click here.

Industry News

Georgia Ports Authority adds new container storage space

The Port of Savannah is bringing online 400,000 TEUs of annual container capacity at just the time when many port customers are seeking new storage options. “With slowing demand related to the coronavirus, port users need space to stage their cargo until that demand returns,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive…

03.19.2020

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New York Times “Booming Savannah Port See Trade Tensions as a Hiccup”

Booming Savannah Port Sees Trade Tensions as Just a Hiccup New York Times By Patricia Cohen and Natalie Kitroeff Saturday, May 18 Savannah’s ocean ports feature skyscraping silver cranes that stand at attention on the water’s edge. Container ships stretch the length of four football fields, with 40-foot containers stacked…

07.18.2019

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Savannah Stories

Port of Savannah Efficiency

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Arboris – Supply Chain Logistics

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Distribution Services International, Inc.

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Latest News

SEDA provides workforce organization update

At the April 16, 2024 Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) board of directors meeting staff gave an update on the naming and activities of the regional workforce organization that was announced in December 2023. The organization was a recommendation from the Regional Workforce Study released in November 2023. The new…

04.28.2024

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SEDA hosts 2024 annual meeting

On Jan. 4,  at the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) Annual Meeting SEDA President and CEO Trip Tollison announced that the authority had facilitated 11 company announcements in 2023 that resulted in 3,731 new job opportunities and $2,631,994,199 in capital investment. Other highlights of the event included announcing the naming…

01.09.2024

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Plastic Express to double Georgia operations

Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Plastic Express, a leader in the plastic resins shipping industry, will build a second shipping facility in Savannah, Georgia. The new location will create an estimated 200 new jobs and $80 million in investment in Chatham County. “Job creators like Plastic Express choose…

11.30.2023

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