Manufacturing Boom and New Trade Framework Drive 38% Growth in Container Volumes
Vietnam has officially emerged as the fastest-growing trade partner for the Port of Savannah. This impressive growth is driven primarily by a significant surge in manufacturing as well as a strategic expansion of Vietnam’s logistics infrastructure. Over the last five years, container trade between Savannah and Vietnam has seen a remarkable increase of 38%, resulting in an addition of 104,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and reaching a total of 379,000 TEUs for the fiscal year 2025.
The growth is further bolstered by a new trade framework between the U.S. and Vietnam that includes an agreement to reduce reciprocal tariffs down to 20%, with indications that some categories may eventually reach zero. This change has created a more favorable trading environment, enhancing the flow of goods between the two nations.
Strategic Services and Transit Efficiencies
The Georgia Ports Authority currently provides nine direct ocean carrier services linking Savannah to Vietnam. Average transit times for shipments from Vietnam to the U.S. East Coast hover around 33 days, demonstrating efficiency in logistics operations. A key development occurred in November 2025 when the Gemini cooperation—a partnership between industry giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd—designated Savannah as its inaugural U.S. East Coast port of call under the TP11/US1 service. This route provides an approximately 39-day transit, featuring a rotation that includes:
Haiphong – Ningbo – Shanghai – Lazaro Cardenas – Savannah – Charleston – New York – Singapore.
According to Griff Lynch, President and CEO of Georgia Ports, Vietnam’s strategic location, complemented by business-friendly policies, positions it as a vital and expanding market for the logistics backbone of the region.
Diversified Cargo and Economic Impact
The trade relationship between the United States and Vietnam is characterized by a robust two-way flow of commodities. On one hand, the U.S. exports various goods to Vietnam, including:
- Forest products
- Food
- Cotton
- Hardware
- Resins
- Retail consumer goods
Conversely, the U.S. imports a diverse range of products from Vietnam, such as:
- Apparel
- Footwear
- Furniture
- Electronics
- Machinery
Vietnam’s advancing role in global electronics manufacturing is a key driver of this trade volume. One notable development is the $23 billion investment made by Samsung in its Vietnamese operations, which now accounts for over half of the company’s global smartphone production. By 2024, total trade between the U.S. and Vietnam is projected to reach approximately $135 billion, solidifying Vietnam’s status as the second-largest trading partner for the U.S., just behind China.
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