S&P Global and Moody’s have both given the Georgia Ports Authority the highest credit rating of any port in the Southeast. (Georgia Ports)
Ensures lower interest borrowing for infrastructure
A well-known international financial rating service, S&P Global (Standard & Poor’s), has released their bi-annual rating on August 8, 2025, giving Georgia Ports Authority an excellent rating (high grade) of AA/Stable on GPA’s revenue bonds and effectively the equivalent rating that Moody’s issued last September 2024 at Aa2.
“The Georgia Ports Authority is appreciative of this assessment by S&P Global, a leading financial rating firm. We’re looking forward to another successful year of throughput with our ongoing investment in infrastructure, developing new business and serving the people of Georgia and the Southeast,” said Griff Lynch, President and CEO of Georgia Ports Authority.
The S&P Global Ratings report cited the key strengths of Georgia Ports:
- A very strong market position, given it is a dominant provider of port services, facing modest competition. The port is strategically important to the regional economy as an import and export hub for manufacturers and other businesses in Georgia and neighboring states.
- Financial metrics, based on our evaluation of current financial forecasts that assume attainable volume projections, which we expect will remain robust with no additional debt needs.
- Very strong management and governance, with an experienced management team that demonstrates both deep knowledge and insights into industry and market conditions and that has established a track record of managing and operating its port facilities and overseeing implementation of the large capital plan.
“This is a testament to our Georgia Ports Team and Board in managing this incredible asset for Georgia, acknowledging our important role in the economy of the Peach State and the Southeast region,” said Georgia Ports Board Chair Alec Poitevint.
About Georgia Ports
Now in their 80th year of operation, Georgia’s ports and inland terminals support more than 609,000 jobs throughout the state annually, contributing $40 billion in income, $171 billion in revenue and $5.3 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. In the past decade, GPA has invested $3.2 billion in infrastructure. GPA anticipates investing $4.5 billion in the next ten years as part of its port master plan to expand cargo handling capabilities and support future supply chain requirements. As part of GPA’s community engagement efforts, $6 million will be donated to communities located near the Port of Savannah to support a multi-year, local workforce housing initiative. Area Development – a site selection news outlet for the U.S., has ranked Georgia as the Top State to Do Business for 11 consecutive years. For further information, visit gaports.com or contact Chief Communications Officer Tom Boyd tboyd@gaports.com 912-346-0158.
