Advocacy

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 22, 2023)– Florida’s 16 seaports experienced a new record high of 112.5 million tons of cargo received during 2022, a six percent increase over 2021, a newly released report from the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council (FSTED) shows. Further, 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.

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 1970’s-era supply chain is broken, so we’re looking beyond to share how Florida’s seaports are the gateway to the world,” said Michael Rubin, FSTED Administrator, and President and CEO of the Florida Ports Council.

Florida is a top maritime trade state and home to the world’s largest cruise ports. Cargo and cruise activities support:

• 900,000 Direct and Indirect Jobs
• $117.6 Billion in Economic Value
• 13.3% 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.

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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ABOUT THE FSTED & THE SEAPORT MISSION PLAN:

Since 1990, FSTED has produced the Seaport Mission Plan (SMP) annually by law. The SMP provides citizens and businesses with a historical accounting of the overall health, capabilities and trends in the important work of Florida’s 15 seaports, and their contribution to Florida’s economy and society.