News & Updates
Seaport Spotlight: Port Panama City
Located on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, Port Panama City is a growing regional port that handles over two million tons of cargo annually. The port provides full terminal and handling services for a diverse mix of containerized, breakbulk and bulk cargoes. The port also supports two, on-port heavy manufacturing companies and supports several large manufactures in the region with vital port services.
The port has concentrated on expanding capacity and cargo handling capabilities over the last five years and continues to invest in modern port infrastructure, promote trade and support industrial development initiatives on the local, state, and regional level. The port’s largest growth project has been the development of the East Terminal and the deepening of the East Channel and turning basin. Additional capacity projects recently completed include the construction of a 70,000 square foot on-port container freight station at the West Terminal, and the delivery of a third Mobile Harbor Crane along with two container reach stackers.
Currently, Port Panama City has expanded its bulk handling capability with the recent construction of a 20,000-ton capacity storage dome. This enables the port to handle an additional 300 tons of biomass exports per year. The port is also investing in capacity upgrades to the rail corridor connecting the East Terminal to the Bay Line Railroad.
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 attracting manufacturing and distribution companies to the region, the port developed a modern Intermodal Distribution Center (IDC) to promote warehousing and distribution services and provide shovel-ready industrial sites for new industries. A project to improve an additional 54 acres is nearing competition, adding to the port’s portfolio of shovel-ready, heavy industry-zoned sites. The IDC is strategically located 15 miles inland from both port terminals, and well connected to US HWY 231, the main truck corridor connecting Panama City to 1-10 and 1-65, and direct rail service to CSX and Norfolk Southern networks via the Bay Line Railroad.
The port generated $1.6 billion in economic value for the region, with port and cargo activity supporting 10,790 jobs in the state of Florida.