The past two years have spotlighted the vulnerability and unreliability of global supply chains. The greatest challenge facing the container shipping industry is finding creative ways to serve accelerating growth in global trade.
Beneficial cargo owners and ocean carriers realize the congestion plaguing the larger traditional established ports and inland routings means new solutions are needed. Emerging ports are proving to be reliable alternatives, especially those that have stayed ahead of the curve with robust terminal capacity expansion plans, have plenty of land to accommodate growth, and offer smooth inland connections.
Companies are looking for the best locations to establish new distribution centers, and some manufacturers are choosing these new port gateways, which are also closer to expanding markets. Savvy retailers are reconfiguring their distribution strategies in growing markets like Central Florida to handle more imports at existing distribution centers (DCs) and capitalize on new efficiencies.
Importers and manufacturers are seeing considerable savings in drayage costs, as well as environmental benefits, including fewer truck miles, lower emissions, and less idling time, because emerging ports are closer to expanding markets.
Port Tampa Bay is building on record growth in our container business, fueled by rapidly expanding distribution center capacity along the Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa Bay and Orlando, Florida’s distribution hub. Companies in this region enjoy significant savings in their supply chain distribution costs, as truckers can make as many as four round-trip deliveries per day from the port to area DCs, which service all of Florida and reach into markets throughout the Southeast and beyond.
To keep pace with this rapid growth, the port has been expanding terminal capacity with additional paved storage, extended berths, and new cranes, equipment, and transloading facilities. Now more than ever is a great time for shippers to “reroute” their thinking.