Container handling through the port of Savannah and its sister facilities increased 12% on a year earlier in May to reach a new record. That was the seventh straight month of growth, and included handling of larger vessels as well as the influence of the East Coast Gateway Terminal Agreement with Virginia. Imports expanded more rapidly than exports (14% vs. 5% in full containers), while shipments inbound from Asia were the main driver. That pattern, if repeated nationally, would suggest a further increase in the U.S. trade deficit has occurred in May.