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A positive outlook for bunker sales volumes is forecast for the US port of Savannah following news that the East Coast port recorded a rise in container volume figures for the month of October.

Savannah, the primary port on the Savannah River and the largest port in the state of Georgia, handled 273,296 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) at its Garden City Terminal last month.

The figure was 39,296 TEUs, or 16.8 percent, higher than the 234,000 TEUs recorded during the corresponding month last year.

Savannah is quickly becoming a leading choice for Suez services and currently participates in seven services transiting the Suez Canal to the United States East Coast. Also, the Indamex service, covering the Indian sub-continent and Eastern Mediterranean, added a call at Savannah in November 2009.

Overall tonnage last month at Georgia's ports rose to a new record of 2,347,260 tonnes - up 9.8 percent on last October. The port of Brunswick, handled 41,063 auto units in October - up 61.6 percent year-on-year. Agri-bulk handled 104,286 tons at Colonel’s Island Terminal - an increase of 36.9 percent compared to October 2009.

“This increase is consistent with growth rates that have been experienced since December 2009 and indicates ongoing improvements in overall market conditions,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz, in a statement.

“Many commodity groups reported increases during October with records set in container volume at Garden City and automobile activity at Colonel’s Island,” added Foltz.