Frozen Poultry Exports up 8.5% at Georgia Ports

Frozen poultry exports through the Port of Savannah are up by 8.5% in the latest 12-month figures, the Georgia Ports Authority said last week.

For the 12-month period ending in February, the Port of Savannah handled 55,957 twenty-foot equivalent container units of frozen poultry exports, an increase of nearly 4,400 TEUs or 8.5% compared to the same time period in the previous year.

The Port of Savannah is the nation’s No. 1 gateway for frozen poultry exports. In calendar year 2025, volumes totaled more than 54,000 TEUs, or 757,570 tons. Overall, Georgia Ports handled 37% of all frozen poultry exported from the United States last year.

The Port of Savannah features approximately 3,600 powered slots for refrigerated containers, including nearly 3,400 positions at refrigerated container racks and more than 200 slots for containers on chassis.

The Georgia Ports Authority is expanding its cold chain infrastructure and services. A new $49.25 million U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at Garden City Terminal doubles the size of the previous centralized examination station. The on-terminal site expands refrigerated inspection capabilities and streamlines the process for importers by eliminating the need to truck containers off-site.

Opened in February, the building also supports inspections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This month, 4,000 square feet of refrigerated space will come online for chilled cargo inspections.

The facility includes specialized temperature controls, ventilation and sanitation measures to preserve product quality during inspections.

Georgia’s poultry industry is concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, particularly in Hall, Franklin, Hart and Madison counties. GPA’s Gainesville Inland Port opened May 4, giving North Georgia producers a direct rail option to Savannah. Currently, frozen poultry exports move to the port by truck.

Savannah connects to 40 ocean carrier services, offering the most direct trade routes of any South Atlantic or Gulf Coast port.