- Florida’s seaports handled a record high of 112.5 million tons of cargo received in 2022, a 6 percent increase from the previous year, supporting 900,000 direct and indirect jobs, $117.6 billion in economic value, and 13.3 percent of Florida’s GDP.
- The state’s ports avoided supply chain constrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and engaged in several maintenance projects to increase accessibility, such as adding live traffic cameras to Port Everglades.
- The Port of Miami experienced a growth of approximately 73 percent in unaudited fiscal 2022 operating revenues, and the Port of Jacksonville supported 138,000 jobs and facilitated $31 billion in annual economic impact for the region and state.
- Florida’s cruise industry reported positive economic activity, generating 158,992 jobs, $8.1 billion in income, and more than $9.0 billion in direct revenue for Florida businesses, with 11 million passengers in 2022.
Florida’s 16 seaports reached a record high of 112.5 million tons of cargo received in 2022, marking a 6 percent increase from 2021, according to a report released by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council (FSTED).
The report revealed that cargo and cruise activities supported 900,000 direct and indirect jobs, $117.6 billion in economic value, and 13.3 percent of Florida’s GDP last year. In 2021, the state’s seaports handled 4,310,054 TEUs, 26,167,200 container tons, 22,426,786 dry bulk tons, 54,899,124 liquid bulk tons, 9,038,895 breakbulk tons, 631,157 vehicles, and 10,769,213 passengers.
“Florida seaports have been flexing their muscles and taking a more aggressive approach to target maritime decision-makers. We know the country’s 1970s-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.
The state’s ports avoided supply chain constrictions following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and engaged in several maintenance projects to increase accessibility, such as adding three live traffic cameras to Port Everglades to allow shippers to better anticipate peak congestion patterns and seeking investment at the Port of Miami to construct two off-port facilities to handle imports.
“The supply chain crisis of the last two years drove shippers to explore alternatives to traditional routes to move cargo into and through North America,” reads the report. “Other recent crises, such as hurricanes, have also shown that a mismatch between the demand and supply of maritime logistics capacity leads to surges in freight rates, congestion, and critical interruptions to global value chains.
The Port of Miami, one of the largest economic engines in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, experienced a growth of approximately 73 perrcent in unaudited fiscal 2022 operating revenues (excluding State Comprehensive Enhanced Transportation System tax payments) from $99.4 million in 2021 to $172.4 million in 2022. The port’s top trading partners are China, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
The Port of Jacksonville, serving as Florida’s largest container port and one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports, played a significant economic role in the city. Cargo activity through Jacksonville’s seaport supported 138,000 jobs and facilitated $31 billion in annual economic impact for the region and state last year. The port’s top trading partners are China, South Korea, and Germany.
State leaders plan to allocate $3.9 billion through Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) beginning in Fiscal Year 2023 and extending through 2027. The largest planned investments in the current CIP are for Berth Rehabilitation and Repairs ($774 million), Site Improvements ($703 million), Cargo Terminals ($698 million), and Cruise Terminals ($636 million).
Florida’s cruise industry also reported positive economic activity, with the state claiming the world’s top three cruise homeports – the Port of Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades – and being home to the largest cruise ships in the world. Florida-based cruise activity’s direct expenditures generated 158,992 jobs, $8.1 billion in income across the state, and more than $9.0 billion in direct revenue for Florida businesses, with 11 million passengers in 2022.
This is what happens when you have a governor with a little sense and no feard of telling federal controler to take a hike.