Port Everglades sets new record in cargo volume in December 2016; highest in 90 years

Feb 09, 2017: Broward County's Port Everglades had a record setting month in December 2016, handling 104,590 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) of cargo volumes moving through the Port.

This is the highest producing month in the Port's nearly 90-year history, and a 15 percent increase over December 2015. TEU counts at Port Everglades have been climbing since September.

"Our customers are bringing in higher volumes of consumer goods such as produce, clothing and household goods as the region's population increases. It's an indication of a strengthening economy," said Steven Cernak, chief executive and Port director, Port Everglades.

Much of the increase can be attributed to a resurgence in the Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic markets, including perishable products. These market increases can also be partially attributed to the change in vessel sharing agreements between Crowley Liner Service and Seaboard Marine.

"Port Everglades helped spearhead a pilot programme to bring refrigerated produce from South America directly to Florida, when it was previously restricted to only coming into northern US ports," said Jim Pyburn, director of Business Development, Port Everglades.

"The pilot programme was a great success and now we are seeing a wider variety of produce coming to South Florida faster and fresher than when it was trucked here from the Northeast."

Several new services are also contributing to the Port's TEU increase.

Germany based shipping line Hapag-Lloyd began a direct call to Port Everglades from Valencia, Spain, on its Mediterranean Gulf Express (MGX) service. The MGX port rotation began in July and includes: Cagliari, Liorno and Genoa in Italy; Barcelona and Valencia in Spain; Port Everglades in South Florida, USA; Kingston, Jamaica; Veracruz and Altamira in Mexico; Houston, TX, and New Orleans, LA, both in the United States before returning to Italy. The MGX service is responsible for adding approximately 300 to 400 TEUs weekly at Port Everglades. Florida International Terminal is the terminal operator.

SeaLand and APL's North American Express Service (NAE/ACX) began service to Latin America in late 2015, and has been increasing its volumes in the first full year at Port Everglades. Port Everglades is the first and last US call for this weekly, year-round service.

Port Everglades is Florida's leading container port, annually handling more than one million TEUs and serving as a gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.