The Asian container trade continues to be the fastest growing segment of JAXPORT’s container cargo business, achieving 19% growth in FY16 with 336,791 containers moved compared to 283,164 TEUs the previous year. The growth of existing and new services calling on JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal, including the recently added 2M Alliance (Maersk Line/Mediterranean Shipping Co., the two largest container carriers in the world) contributed to this growth. The Asian sector has grown steadily since JAXPORT first entered the trade lane in 2009, now accounting for 35% of JAXPORT’s total cargo container business in 2016.
When combined with the containers moving through its private terminals, the port of Jacksonville moves more than 1.2 million containers annually, making it the largest port complex in Florida.
JAXPORT also recorded double digit growth in automobile imports in 2016, moving 467,898 imported vehicles, up 19 percent over last year. Overall, vehicle volumes remained steady with more than 636,000 total units moved, maintaining JAXPORT’s ranking as one of the nation’s busiest ports for total vehicle handling.
Other 2016 highlights include:
Breakbulk cargoes (non-containerized cargo such as fertilizer, metals, forest products and perishables) increased 22 percent over the previous year, with nearly 888,000 tons shipped. A large portion of the growth is due to paper imports from Finland and wood pulp imports from Brazil.
Puerto Rican container business grew nearly 7 percent over the prior year.
JAXPORT achieved its 16th consecutive year of operating revenue growth, earning $59.7 million, up 6% over 2015.