Florida's 15 ports are well-positioned to meet supply chain demands and benefit from the realignment of global trade routes because of their strong investments, according to a new report.
In particular, the Seaport Mission Plan, Florida Ports: Open for Business, released by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Board (FSTED), provides an analysis of the health and potential of Florida ports.
The report comes as 29 West Coast ports are operating without a negotiated labor contract and many shippers have already switched lanes to head to East Coast ports, fearing 2022 labor negotiations could lead to further strikes, lockouts, and slowdowns.
“Florida’s continued investment in our seaports has made it a destination for companies from around the world frustrated with the logjams at Pacific coast ports,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
“We will continue to make the investments necessary to bolster our supply chain and improve our infrastructure to bring more business to Florida’s seaports,” DeSantis added.
“Florida’s seaports are flexing their muscles, and seizing the opportunity to become a global hub by capturing an even larger share of international trade and related commercial activities,” noted Michael Rubin, FSTED programme administrator.
The unprecedented disruption to the economy and supply chain due to the pandemic has shown that Florida's ports can support current demand and grow into the future, the report pointed out.
In addition, Florida's strong performance has resulted in global shipping lines changing trade lanes to specifically target Florida ports – this includes new direct services to Asia.
Among the new lines of business recently secured are:
- The first vessel in global ocean carrier Sea Lead Shipping Pte Ltd’s new Asia East Coast container service making its inaugural call to JAXPORT in June
- A new direct Asia service is now calling on Port Tampa Bay, and new service connections with Mexico and Central America have been secured
- MSC has launched its new Zephyr service from northern China and South Korea to the U.S. Gulf Coast, and it includes a direct call to Port Everglades
Among the highlights from the Seaport 2022 Mission Plan are:
- Total tonnage (inbound and outbound) increased 118.4% year-on-year
- Containerised cargo accounted for the second-highest percentage of total tonnage, up 16.2%
- Seaports saw an overall increase of 16% compared to 2020
- Port Miami recorded its busiest cargo year in history, up almost 18% over last year, with most of the additional cargo attributed to imports coming from Asia which would normally go into California
- Port Tampa Bay container tonnage increased by 14% in the first quarter of 2022, with huge jumps in building material
- Port Everglades saw 11% growth year-over-year, and they are up more than 25% year-to-date
- JAXPORT recently announced the completion of the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project through its Blount Island Marine Terminal to accommodate post-Panamax container ships
- Port of Palm Beach recorded 37,200 TEU and 495,976 STONS in increased fourth quarter activity
Of the US$4.5 billion in seaport capital improvements identified over the next five years, 75.1% are in Atlantic coast seaports, with the remaining 24.9% coming from coastal seaports of the Gulf.
