Late in 2021, as President Joe Biden’s administration seemed impotent to solve the supply-chain crisis, especially concerning cargo ships, Gov. Ron DeSantis encouraged companies to use Florida’s ports.
Now, cargo carriers have joined tourists and refugees from blue states as the latest group to fall in love with Florida.
Florida’s 16 seaports clocked a new record high of 112.5 million tons of cargo received in 2022, a 6% jump from 2021, the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council reported.
In the news: Biden DOJ Pushes Court To Allow Democrat’s January 6th Lawsuit Against Trump
“Florida seaports have been flexing their muscles and taking a more aggressive approach to target maritime decision-makers. We know the country’s 1970s-era supply chain is broken, so we’re looking beyond to share how Florida’s seaports are the gateway to the world,” said Michael Rubin, president, and CEO of the Florida Ports Council, according to The Capitolist.
In 2022, the outlet reported that the cargo and cruise ship action at Florida’s ports supported 900,000 direct and indirect jobs, generated $118 billion in economic value, and made up 13.3% of Florida’s GDP.
In its report, the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council noted, “The supply chain crisis of the last two years drove shippers to explore alternatives to traditional routes to move cargo into and through North America.”
One example of how that spurred Florida was found in Miami. The Port of Miami in 2022 boasted a 73% revenue spike compared to 2021.
In the news: China Outpaces U.S. In Research On Critical Energy, Defense Technology, Report Finds
And it’s not just cargo ships.
As The Free Press reported, the world’s top three homeports for cruise ships are the Port of Miami, Port Canaveral, and Port Everglades.
In 2022, the cruise ship industry generated 159,000 jobs, $9 billion in direct revenue for Florida businesses, and hauled 11 million passengers.
Android Users, Click Here To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook Here Or Twitter Here. Signup for our free newsletter by clicking here.