International Trade is a Bright Spot for Florida

Challenge: Competition

It's a conundrum that leaves state trade officials shaking their heads — despite the success and capacity of Florida's ports, many Florida businesses continue to use out-of-state ports such as those in Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va., to ship and receive goods.

"There are significant opportunities that are bypassing Florida today." — Phil Allen, Port Everglades director/chairman of the Florida Ports Council

Meanwhile, imports from Latin America that could come into Florida and then make their way to the rest of the U.S. are coming into Houston and L.A. According to a report by the Florida Chamber Foundation, Florida seaports in 2009 handled only 55% of the waterborne cargo imports that were used in this state and 75% of the exports produced here. Panama's Colon Free Zone grabs some transshipment business that Florida could handle, and at least one port in the Bahamas can already handle the post-Panamax container ships for which Florida ports are too shallow.

Outgoing

Three Florida ports are among the top 15 exporting ports in the U.S.:

No. 11
Port Everglades ($11.1 billion in exports in 2010)

No. 13
Port of Miami ($10.3 billion in exports)

No. 15
Jaxport ($9.2 billion in exports)

Source: Port Everglades

Trade Math, 2010

Florida-origin exports: $55.2 billion, a record (up 17.8% from 2009)

+ Other exports: $17.8 billion

+ Imports: $53.2 billion (up 23%)

= Total trade: $126.2 billion (up 23%)

Source: Enterprise Florida