The Panama City Port Authority, created in 1945 by a special act of the State Legislature, has been powering trade through northwest Florida for eighty years. Port Panama City is an operating port, providing full terminal and handling services for over two million tons of breakbulk, bulk, and containerized cargo annually. Port Panama City also supports two on-port, heavy manufacturing companies and provide vital port services for several large manufacturers in the region.

Port Panama City’s mission is to expand regional economic opportunities by providing modern port facilities, promoting global trade, and supporting industrial development initiatives on the local, state, and regional levels. The port’s largest growth project has been the development of the East Terminal and the deepening of the East Channel and turning basin. Phase Two is underway with engineering and permitting for an additional warehouse, berth, and turning basin capacity improvements, which includes the addition of 200,000 sq. ft on-dock warehousing, extending the existing berth 600 ft, and expanding the turning basin. The port anticipates beginning construction of the second warehouse in Q3 2025. The construction of the berth extension will follow. The port remains focused on expanding container handling capacity at its West Terminal to support its growing regional container trade. Construction has started on the next phase of the container terminal expansion, which will be completed in Q4 2025.

Capacity expansion projects completed in 2023 highlight Port Panama City’s continued investment to support long-term cargo growth. The port completed construction of a 20,000-ton capacity storage dome, increasing bulk cargo handling capabilities to handle 300,000 additional tons of biomass exports per year. Additional projects included capacity upgrades to the rail corridor connecting the East Terminal to the Bay Line Railroad, and the development of fifty-four additional acres of industrial sites at the Intermodal Distribution Center.

The port is actively engaged in regional economic development efforts, working closely with the Bay County Economic Development Alliance and Florida’s Great Northwest. As part of its commitment to attract manufacturing and distribution companies to the region, the port developed a modern Intermodal Distribution Center (IDC) to promote warehousing and distribution services, provide facilities for the transfer of bulk and neo-bulk commodities between rail and truck, and provide a portfolio of improved industrial sites for new industries. These sites are shovel-ready, rail-served, and ready to attract additional manufacturing and distribution companies to the region. The IDC is strategically located fifteen miles inland from both port terminals, connected to US HWY 231, the main truck corridor connecting Panama City to I-10 and I-65, and direct rail service to CSX and Norfolk Southern is provided by the Bay Line Railroad.

Port Panama City generates $1.6 billion in economic value for the region, with port and cargo activity supporting 10,790 jobs in the state of Florida based on a 2023 Martin and Associates Economic Impact Study conducted for the Port.

Goals & Objectives

  • Adopt Strategic Master Plan
  • Continue Phase 2 expansion of the East Terminal
  • Continue the phased expansion of the container terminal

Current or Planned Investments

  • EAST TERMINAL BULKHEAD EXTENSION AND TURNING BASIN EXPANSION
    The expansion includes the construction of a 600 LF bulkhead extension, 120 ft wide concrete apron and aquatic habitat mitigation and preservation. When the berth extension is complete, the East Terminal will have berth capacity to accommodate two 700 LF vessels simultaneously. This will expand breakbulk handling capacity and in turn, the Port will be able to expand its container handling capacity to handle long-term growth in the regional container trades.
  • EAST TERMINAL WAREHOUSE PHASE TWO
    Construction to start Q3 2025 and will include the construction of a 200,000 sq. ft warehouse along with rail spur extension and terminal roadway improvements.
  • WEST TERMINAL CONTAINER TERMINAL AND CARGO HANDLING IMPROVEMENTS

Accomplishments

  • Commenced operations at the new East Terminal
  • Completion of deepening East Terminal berth, turning bason, and channel to thirty-six feet
  • Activation of a third mobile harbor container crane

Hinterland

Northwest Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Generally, the Port of Panama City provides a Gulf coast alternative to the Port of Savannah.

Trade Partners

Mission

Expand regional economic opportunities by providing modern port facilities, promoting trade, and supporting industrial development.