JAXPORT terminals top 1M TEU

News 25 Oct 2017 by WCN Editorial

Container volume through Jaxport’s public terminals grows 7% to reach the 1M TEU mark for the first time.

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JAXPORT has reported record growth in containers, vehicles and overall tonnage during its fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2017. As well as the 7% increase in container volumes, JAXPORT recorded a 7% increase in general cargo to 9.3Mt, and a new record in the auto sector, handling 693,000 vehicles.

The total container volume in Jacksonville, including all private terminals, exceeds 1.3M TEU, and the Port of Jacksonville lays claim to being Florida’s largest container port complex. The fastest growing market is trade with Asia, which grew 19% in the year and now accounts for nearly 40% of the port’s container business, up from 24% in 2013.

Trade with Puerto Rico also grew strongly, up 10% in the fiscal year, and the port and its partners are now playing a key role in getting relief aid to Puerto Rico after the island was devastated by hurricane Maria in September.

JAXPORT is optimistic the growth will continue. The federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet is scheduled to begin construction later this year. The port has been in discussions with TraPac over moving the terminal from its current location at Dames Point to Blount Island to reduce the dredging requirement and lower the cost of the project, but no conclusion has been reported at this stage.