Florida’s 16 seaports experienced a new record high of 112.5 million tons of cargo received during 2022, a 6 percent increase over 2021, a new report from the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council (FSTED) shows.
“Florida’s strong performance to answer supply chain demands by encouraging shippers to change shipping lanes and call on the Sunshine State’s uncongested ports, has well-positioned Florida to gain an even larger market share over the next five years,” noted the Florida Ports Council. “As the Seaport Mission Plan shows, strong investments in Florida’s 16 publicly owned seaports have well-positioned them as reliable and resilient, and ready to seize the opportunity to become a global hub by capturing an even larger share of international trade and related commercial activities.”
“Florida seaports have been flexing their muscles, and taking a more aggressive approach to target maritime decision makers. We know the country’s 1970s-era supply chain is broken, so we’re looking beyond to share how Florida’s seaports are the gateway to the world,” said Florida Ports Council President and CEO Michael Rubin, who is also the administrator of the FSTED.
Cargo and cruise activities support 900,000 direct and indirect jobs across Florida, leading to
$117.6 billion in economic value and representing 13.3 percent of Florida’s GDP.
Key 2022 figures from the Seaport Mission Plan show:
TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units): 4,310,054
Container Tons: 26,167,200
Dry Bulk Tons: 22,426,786
Liquid Bulk Tons: 54,899,124
Breakbulk Tons: 9,038,895
Total Tonnage: 112,532,005
Vehicles: 631,157
Passengers: 10,769,213
“To build on Florida’s record high 2023 cargo, Florida’s port leaders will meet face-to-face with maritime decision makers during TPM2023 – the premier conference for international container shipping on February 26-March 1 in Long Beach, CA. These one-on-one conversations have played a key role in securing new shipping lines and increased cargo calling on Florida,” noted the Florida Ports Council.
Fast Facts About Florida’s Seaports:
Ten of Florida’s 16 established and emerging seaports handled cargo in 2022
Eight handled passenger movements by cruise ship, ferry, and/or day-cruise vessel
Florida is home to the world’s top three cruise homeports: Port Miami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades
Florida is a global hub for mega yachts for extended stays, and increasingly, maintenance
Florida has 20 Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs)
Florida has six seaports ranked in the Top 30 U.S. Ports by Logistics magazine
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