Posts Tagged “containerized cargo”
Containerized cargo business at Port Manatee in Palmetto, FL has rose at a record pace, in part due to fruit imports.
The port posted a 55 percent increase as the fiscal year ended in September, with an all-time high of 88,466 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs). The previous fiscal year saw 57,239 TEUs, which was also a huge increase, at almost a 50 percent increase.
“With container throughput more than doubling over the course of just two years, Port Manatee is increasingly fulfilling regional consumer demands for goods ranging from fresh produce to appliances,” Carlos Buqueras, Port Manatee’s executive director, said in a news release. “As our dockside container yard expansion project advances toward mid-2021 completion, Port Manatee is positioning to continue to efficiently handle rapidly growing cargo volumes.”
The container yard expansion will nearly double the current 10-acre paved area.
The port’s container trade is being driven by growth of World Direct Shipping, which imports produce and other goods from Mexico since 2014, and Fresh Del Monte Produce Co., which has been importing fruit from Latin America for decades through the port.
Priscilla Whisenant Trace, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority, said the port’s latest cargo cargo increases, happened as the port implemented enhanced health and safety measures because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We commend the men and women who are maintaining essential operations at Port Manatee, serving consumers of Southwest Florida and beyond,” she said in the release. “Sustained growth of Port Manatee’s container trade is a testament to success of our diverse strategy, with key infrastructure investments poised to facilitate even greater cargo activity and deliver still more positive socioeconomic impacts throughout our region.”
Imported produce is relatively light, but is increasing as we advance further into fall. Full tilt will come during the winter months and continue until the North American spring starts coming into view. The vast majority of arrivals will be by boat at various U.S. ports.
Among the heaviest volumes right now are Mexican limes and lemons, crossing the border primarily through South Texas. Both are increasing in volume with limes averaging about 500 truck loads weekly, and lemons about half this amount. Mexican blueberries also are very light, but will be increasing in volume crossing the border in both Texas and Nogales. There’s also light volume of Peruvian blueberries coming by boat.
There is increasing arrivals of South African Valencia oranges at U.S. ports. Mexican Valencias will be very light until mid October through South Texas….Chile is a major supplier of winter fruit to the U.S., but that will mostly be after the first of the year. However, nearly 400 truck load equivalents of Chilean tangerines are currently arriving weekly…..Mexican avocados through Texas would normally be heavier now, but there is a strike underway by Mexican growers.
Port of Oakland
TraPac LLC plans to lease an additional 57 acres and two vessel berths nearly double its marine terminal size on the Outer Harbor at the Port of Oakland.
TraPac is the second-largest terminal operator in Oakland and a proposed 14-year lease agreement with the port will become final if approved at an October 27 board meeting.
“This is a significant step forward for TraPac and the port,” port maritime director John Driscoll said in a news release. “TraPac gets room to expand its thriving business and the port gets to revitalize valuable property with a highly respected tenant.”
TraPac, based in Wilmington, CA, handles 20 percent of the containerized cargo moving through the Port of Oakland. Under the new agreement, it would have four berths and 123 acres. Much of the land would be used for cargo handling.
TraPac began Oakland operations in 1991 and also manages other terminals in Los Angeles and Jacksonville, FL
The company plans to construct a new gate to give harbor truckers better access to the terminal.