Cargo Traffic Trends: JAXPORT, Mexico, Port Everglades

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The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) reports its Asian container trade jumped 20 percent to 226,938 TEUs during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014. Mexico’s port system processed just over 214.4 million metric tons of cargo during the first nine months of 2014, down just 0.3 percent from a year ago, according to "preliminary" data compiled and reported by the federal port agency, Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante. Port Everglades’ container count topped 1.0 million TEUs in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014.

JAXPORT Asian Container Cargo Volume Up 20% in 2014

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) reports its Asian container trade jumped 20 percent to 226,938 TEUs during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014. The port’s Asian trade has grown by an average 28.5 percent annually during the past five years and in FY 2014 accounted for nearly 30 percent of its TEU throughput, up from 24 percent in FY 2013.

JAXPORT offers direct Asia service through both the Panama and Suez Canal via 12 of the 18 ocean carriers sailing between Asia and the U.S. East Coast.

Two major harbor improvement projects currently underway, including the authorized project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet, will offer the largest container ships calling on the U.S. East Coast unobstructed access to the port’s terminals.

Other investments include construction of an on-dock rail facility, berth and rail upgrades, and the purchase of several 100-gauge container cranes.

Mexico: Agribulks Jump, Container Trade Flat, Cruise Tourism Rebound Continues Through September

Mexico’s port system processed 214.4 million metric tons of cargo during the first nine months of 2014, down just 0.3 percent from a year ago, according to "preliminary" data compiled and reported by the federal port agency, Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante. Imports accounted for 65.9 million tons ( 6.0 percent), exports for 98.1 million tons (-6.2 percent) and domestic shipments for nearly 56.8 million tons ( 3.2 percent).

As indicated in the attachment, the period was marked by strongly positive performances by agri-bulks and non-petroleum liquid bulks, miniscule gains for breakbulk and containerized cargo, and dips by mineral bulk and petroleum cargo tonnage. Also lower were ship arrivals and the waterborne auto trade. Mexico’s cruise industry continued its rebound from last year’s depressed market, especially on the Pacific coast, where passenger volumes skyrocketed 56.8 percent and cruise ship calls jumped 47.5 percent from prior year levels.

Port Everglades Exceeds 1 Million TEUs for First Time

Port Everglades’ Southport container complex.
Photo/Port Everglades

Port Everglades’ container count topped 1.0 million TEUs in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014. The unaudited total of 1,013,344 TEUs, up from last year’s 927,572 TEUs, was nearly evenly split between imports and exports.

"This is a huge accomplishment for our seaport and a credit to our customers who continued to build their businesses through the global recession with an eye towards the future," said Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak, PPM®.

Mr. Cernak attributed the milestone to continued growth in existing and new containerized cargo services. During the year, King Ocean open a second terminal yard and consolidated services in Port Everglades. It was also the first full year of the Grand Alliance's (Hapag-Lloyd and its partners NYK Line and OOCL) GAX service to Northern Europe.