News & Updates
SEAPORT SPOTLIGHT: #SeasTheOpportunities At PortMiami
Did You Know PortMiami Is One Of The Two Largest Economic Engines in Miami-Dade County?
According to an economic impact study published in 2017, cargo activities represent about 90 percent of the total direct and indirect jobs generated by PortMiami. Among the nation’s busiest ports, PortMiami contributes approximately $43 billion of economic activity and more than 334,000 jobs annually to Florida’s economy. The Port’s sustained performance propels Miami to be recognized as the Cruise Capital of the World and the Global Cargo Gateway of the Americas. With a focus on excellence, innovation, and resiliency, the port is setting the course to drive positive, sustainable change for cruise passengers, stakeholders, and the Miami-Dade County community it so proudly serves.
Dedicated partnerships and the development of new businesses have contributed to PortMiami’s post-pandemic recovery. Since the pandemic, the port opened three new cruise terminals: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cruise Terminal B, the Pearl of Miami, Carnival Corporation’s Cruise Terminal F, and Virgin Voyages Cruise Terminal V, the Palm Grove. In FY 2023, PortMiami had 1,125 calls and welcomed 7,299,294 passengers, setting a new world record for cruise activity. The Port experienced a 6.9 percent increase in cruise passenger totals compared to its previous record of 6,823,816 passengers in FY 2019.
The Port anticipates continuous growth as the number of projected calls and passengers continues to increase in decades ahead. Currently under construction and opening in 2024 is MSC Cruises’ Terminal AA/AAA, the world’s largest cruise terminal capable of handling three cruise ships simultaneously. Also, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Royal Caribbean Group’s new Cruise Terminal G, which is expected to open in late 2027. Eight new builds have been confirmed to use PortMiami as a home for the 2023-2024 cruise season, including Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Venezia, Explora Journey’s Explora I, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Viva, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Oceania’s Vista, and Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Grander. Royal Caribbean Group’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, began its year-round deployment from its new home at the Port in January.
PortMiami is Florida’s top international cargo port and one of Florida’s busiest perishables gateways. In FY 2023, the Port recorded 1,098,322 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU,) surpassing the one million TEU mark for its ninth consecutive fiscal year. During this period, 13 ship lines supported cargo operations at PortMiami, for a total of 885 vessel calls. PortMiami has a significant trade relationship with three geographic regions, Latin America & Caribbean 47 percent, Asia 32 percent, and Europe 20 percent.
PortMiami’s mission is to provide sustainable port services by carefully balancing environmental, capital, and economic factors into its business planning to ensure a resilient workplace today and in the future. PortMiami is committed to proactive policies that enhance its sustainable balance with customers, operations and development while protecting its surrounding natural resources.