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Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz on the growth of the Savannah port.
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While the markets may be stole but the port of Savannah in Georgia is growing faster than any other in America that's in thanks in part to an -- that's used to be considerable -- -- poultry produces in the south.
Chicken feet back button starts just not.
Tasty -- -- but the summit is joining us now is the man who runs the port of Savannah.
Cut his -- executive director of the Georgia ports authority and thank you so much cut -- for being able get to the chicken -- in a minute back.
Congratulations.
On being the fastest growing container -- problem how fast you're growing and how are you doing it.
Well I actually it's it's great -- with you today thank you.
Well for the last decade our container facilities and ports and have grown related compound annual growth rate of about ten and a half percent.
And that's about double wouldn't next -- going coordination.
That's allowed us to become the fourth busiest contain important in the in the country.
I also understand as a dredging project underway or about to get under -- which rule actually make the river that Savannah River fight feet deep up.
What kind of impact will that have on the ports business.
Well let's it's -- critically important project for us did the river itself as a federal channel.
The current studies have approved the deepening to five additional feet.
Ultimately what it means for the nation is it's cheaper to ship goods over the course studies have indicated.
That the deepening itself will -- commerce about 220 million dollars a year so ultimately those chicken -- -- chicken pauses -- refer to him.
Will be a lot more competitive in the world markets and in getting to their destinations.
One of the advantages you have cuts -- if I'm reading this -- is that ships come in with you know with full full load of cargo.
But they can also go out full of cargo which I guess of reference to -- Chicken feed in particular which is different all the -- such as Los Angeles is that right.
Well actually you you've done your background work it is -- in -- in a nation generally speaking where.
Imports out outpace exports to the wind.
We're very fortunate here in the southeast and particularly through our ports where we have balance straight.
So we're we're generally were we -- export dominant we actually export more containerized freight that we don't work when this past year to the tune of about 52%.
Export 48% important it's.
Not just chicken -- we ship a lot of cotton -- and -- a lot of forest products to markets around the world.
And our ports truly have become what -- Gateway for commerce in the southeast.
We'll -- that is is huge project underway with a Panama Canal making it larger it easier to get through.
What impact will that have on on you'll -- out.
Well I you know I think the the Panama Canal expansion -- for those that are as close to it as I am.
They're about to go through the first expansion that they've had in in almost a century.
The Panama Canal locks were originally built in 1914.
In 20142015.
There are gonna go through major expansion.
In in its simplest form what it's gonna allow our larger.
More efficient more environmentally friendly ships to transit the canal -- ship goods to and from major gateways.
Between the eastern half the United States and in all throughout Asia.
So it's gonna bring competitive pricing to bear.
And should improve our competitiveness on a global basis.
And yet lastly Savannah is location it really is the Gateway to the south from points beyond bad so location is a key thing as well as a net.
Well that actually were very fortunate to geographically.
Be located in and what it most consider to be the fastest growing demographic region in the side in the in the US -- You know the southeast is home to about 45% of the US population.
-- with Atlanta kind of warning -- New York City the south.
And our port -- hundred miles closer to Atlanta than the next nearest port.
We are very well suited to take advantage of the continued demographic growth in the southeast and support commerce.
And congratulations again -- cut its faults on the Georgia ports authority you also get to be very lucky in the city of Savannah itself absolutely beautiful.
Just a great story all around cut -- thanks so much for joining us.
Thanks thanks much -- When this -- antebellum homes and.
Gorgeous.
And we'll just -- He's probably doing -- dances which you can -- I mean -- is I should say there's a huge export to China that I love that chicken feet you're gonna see.
-- -- -- side but and a need to do that they fry it.
They say the meat not much of it -- is very tasty and before these feet -- thrown away but now they've become a major.
Product -- that you -- -- food right.
Yes like chicken wings of chicken chicken feet live with the -- in the and I wouldn't -- it's and Farrakhan who.
