JAXPORT handled more container volume in May than at any time in its history.
Jacksonville’s port moved 128,900 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, the industry standard for measuring containers, in May. That is a 37% increase over the same month in 2020 and beats the previous record of 123,700 TEUs set in October 2019.
JAXPORT’s previous monthly container volume record of 123,700 TEUs was set in October 2019.
To date for JAXPORT’s 2021 fiscal year, nearly 950,000 TEUs have moved through the port, up 15%. The port’s fiscal year runs October 1- September 30.
Year-to-date, volumes for the port’s two largest trade lanes for containers—Puerto Rico and Asia—are up 19% and 18%, respectively.
JAXPORT’s auto volumes also continue to rebound from the supply chain disruption created by the pandemic. Through the first eight months of the fiscal year, the port’s auto volumes are up 15% over the same period last year. To date, 435,361 autos have moved through JAXPORT, putting the port on pace to surpass 2020 volumes.
“JAXPORT has developed a reputation in the marketplace for our ability to get vessels in and out of port quickly, a position we are proud to have maintained throughout the supply chain challenges that have impacted our industry over the last 18 months,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green in an email sent to WJCT News.
Despite environmental concerns that have been raised by the St. Johns Riverkeeper, the port is also on track to see the completion of the federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel through Blount Island to 47 feet from its current depth of 40 feet. That project is due to be completed in 2022.
Berth enhancements to enable JAXPORT to simultaneously handle two post-Panamax ships will be completed in coordination with the deepening project, and $72 million in yard improvements are underway to enable Blount Island to accommodate more containers.
JAXPORT is Florida’s largest container port by volume and one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports.
