Port Everglades Sets Record for Containerized Cargo Volumes in FY2017
Broward County's Port Everglades topped its previous record for containerized cargo volumes with 1,076,893 TEUs (the industry standard container measurement of 20-foot equivalent units) moving through the port in Fiscal Year 2017, which ended September 30, 2017.
The port also experienced slight increases in cruise passengers and petroleum volumes according to unaudited reports.
The containerized cargo increase represents a 4 percent boost compared to FY2016, and a 1.5 percent increase since the last record was set in FY2015 at 1,060,507 TEUs. Growth was steady throughout the year and spiked with record months in December and March.
"The volumes of refrigerated produce coming into Florida through Port Everglades from Central America is significant. It represents more than half of all perishable cargo that arrives in Florida by ocean," said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steve Cernak. "Apparel, tile and beverages also rank among our top commodities. Notably, we are seeing growth in machinery and automobile parts as the number of vehicles being shipped in and out of the port also increases."
Port of Savannah Achieves 32 Percent Growth in October
Container trade at the
Port of Savannah grew by 32 percent in October, with Garden City Terminal moving 410,000 twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of nearly 100,000 TEUs.
It was the first time in the port's history that it topped 400,000 TEUs in a single month. For the fiscal year to date (July 1-Oct. 31), the Port of Savannah has moved 1.42 million TEUs, up by 155,050 or 12.3 percent.
"Since the opening of the expanded Panama Canal, Garden City Terminal has experienced meteoric growth," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "We're now handling more ships, bigger vessels and larger cargo exchanges. By working more weekly vessel calls than any other East Coast port, and serving more neopanamax ships than any other port in the U.S. Southeast, Savannah has strengthened its position as a vital gateway to the global marketplace."
Lynch said the Port of Savannah, with the nation's single largest container terminal in North America, is playing a significant and growing role in supporting the nation's economy, emphasizing the need for the timely completion of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.
"With deeper water, today's 14,000-TEU ships will be able to transit the Savannah River with greater scheduling flexibility, and take on heavier export loads," he said. "Because these larger vessels provide lower cost per container slot, they help make American farms and factories more competitive."
The Port of Savannah leads the East Coast in trade of wood pulp, poultry, kaolin clay and raw cotton. Georgia's ports are also major exporters of paper, paperboard, logs and lumber.
To date, the harbor deepening has been funded by $266 million in state funds and $127.8 million in federal construction dollars. The Administration's FY18 budget proposal devotes $50.06 million to SHEP.
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