As one of just two ports in Florida to be featured on the list, Port Manatee has been named as one of the top 20 niche ports in the US by ‘Global Trade’ magazine, according to the Herald Tribune.
The magazine was reported as saying: “At one time, many ports competed for the lucrative and growing container business — but not every port was suited to handle containers.
“As ships got larger and started calling on fewer ports, the ports with the deepest drafts and the most spare acreage won out. Those not making money handling containers found success with other cargoes, such as bulk and break-bulk commodities, automobiles, roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) equipment and project cargoes.”
Download Zepol’s top 20 US port report
The Global Trade article has recognised Port Manatee’s solid performance, reflected in its expansion of the port’s berth 12 and 14.
Carlos Buqueras, Executive Director at Port Manatee, said: “Port Manatee is honoured to be named as one of the nation’s leading niche seaports. This recognition underscores the success of Port Manatee’s dynamic diversification strategy and well planned capital investments.”
US ports are currently seeing a booming growth period, with TEU volumes predicted to increase by 8.3% year on year in November, 2015.
US ports are also self-funding port infrastructure upgrades in a bid to prepare the surge in cargo on the back of the Panama Canal’s expansion, which is due to be completed in April, 2016.
