Savannah sees surge in trade as Vietnam becomes port’s fastest-growing partner

The Port of Savannah is experiencing strong growth in trade with Vietnam, which has become the port’s fastest-growing international partner, according to the Georgia Ports Authority. Over the past five years, container traffic between the two has increased 38%, adding about 104,000 twenty-foot equivalent units and bringing the total to 379,000 TEUs in fiscal year 2025.

A report from WJCL revealed that port officials attribute the rise to Vietnam’s rapidly expanding manufacturing sector and efforts to modernize its logistics network. “With its strategic location and business-friendly policies, Vietnam represents an expanding logistics market,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch.

The increase has strengthened two-way trade. Exports moving from Savannah to Vietnam include forest products, food, cotton, hardware, resins and a variety of consumer goods. Imports coming into Savannah from Vietnam include apparel, footwear, furniture, electronics and machinery, reflecting Vietnam’s growing role as a global manufacturing center.

To handle the additional traffic, the port offers nine direct ocean-carrier services linking Savannah and Vietnam. Typical transit time is about 33 days.

A recent milestone came when Gemini — the shipping partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd — selected Savannah as its first U.S. East Coast stop on its TP11/US1 service, which begins in Haiphong. The updated route provides a 39-day Haiphong-to-Savannah connection.

The growth follows broader shifts in global supply chains. U.S.–Vietnam trade reached around $135 billion in 2024, and large multinational investments, including Samsung’s multi-billion-dollar expansion in Vietnam, continue to boost the country’s manufacturing output.

Asia-to-U.S. commerce highlights how ports are adapting to changing sourcing and production patterns worldwide.