Georgia’s deepwater ports are responsible for $174 billion in sales, representing 11% of the state’s total sales. That’s $77 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or 9% of Georgia’s total GDP. More than 650,000 jobs, full-time and part-time, are supported by the ports. High on the list of imports coming into the Georgia ports are retail consumer goods, including furniture, automotive, and electronics. Goods that are then distributed across the CSRA, Georgia, and the rest of the country, generating income for businesses. A recent report by the National Labor Federation

Late last week, members of the Metro Augusta business community learned Georgia’s deepwater ports are a major driver of the state’s economy, accounting for $77 billion of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That is 9% of Georgia’s total GDP. An Augusta Professor of Supply Chain Management and Operations says there are many benefits for local manufacturers and businesses to import and export their products through Savannah and Brunswick. Fabio Batista, Chief Commercial Officer for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), spoke at the September Member Economic Luncheon sponsored by the