A complement to the rail services at the port is the variety of trucking services available. More than 150 trucking firms operate in the Jacksonville area.

With a river channel wide enough for ships to pass each other, as well as efficient labor and connectivity options, time-sensitive shipments benefit Florida’s agriculture, automotive and aerospace sectors where efficiency is mission-critical.

“We’re able to reach virtually 100 percent of our customers in Florida overnight from Jacksonville, which was a real selling point for us,” said Pasha Gavrichev, Chief Operating Officer at ecommerce retailer 1A Auto.

Global Connections Opening New Markets

JAXPORT offers major shipping alliances and unique container services, providing direct connections with ports around the world. Your products can reach virtually any market worldwide through JAXPORT’s terminals.

Looking to expand globally? JAXPORT has your business covered between the port’s Asia, Oceania and Latin America services, offering robust access to high-growth regions. The port also offers services between the U.S. and Europe as well as Africa.

“We are excited to see the updates this year to the global ocean carrier alliances,” said JAXPORT Chief Commercial Officer Robert Peek. “Our carrier partners have been supportive, offering shippers global access to markets through JAXPORT.”

The Port of Jacksonville also remains the No. 1 port on the mainland for Puerto Rico trade, handling 90% of volume. Weekly services via JAXPORT give Central Florida importers and exporters access to the prominent Caribbean market.

When Reliability Becomes Your Competitive Edge

Remember the global supply chain disruption during the pandemic? While vessels queued for weeks at other ports, JAXPORT maintained efficient harbor operations with no anchorage delays.

The port’s 47-foot-deep shipping channel accommodates post-Panamax vessels with a capacity exceeding 14,000 TEUs. The absence of anchorage delays and advantage of two-way river traffic translates to predictable supply chain timelines.

Smart Money: Financial Advantages Beyond Transportation

Foreign Trade Zone No. 64 – the largest by area in Florida – spans 5,000 acres in 10 counties and offers significant benefits for importers. Duty deferment, exemption from inverted tariffs and streamlined customs processes create immediate financial advantages.

Businesses can improve their cash flow by eliminating duties on re-exported goods through FTZ No. 64. The zone’s millions of square feet of warehousing provides flexible storage or staging options for Central Florida distributors, further reducing operational costs.

Building Tomorrow’s Port Today

JAXPORT is reimagining what a port can be for Florida businesses.

By the end of 2026, raising of the St. Johns River utility lines spanning Jacksonville’s shipping channel to an operational height of 205 feet will be complete, enabling unrestricted access for ultra-large container vessels. Furthermore, the upgrade to Blount Island’s auto terminals will add to the port’s vehicle processing capacity.

JAXPORT CEO
Eric Green

“Public and private investments in our terminals ensure JAXPORT continues to generate business growth benefitting our region and state,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green.

Your Next Move: Partner with JAXPORT

The logistics advantages for Central Florida businesses are clear: faster transit times, lower costs, reduced carbon emissions and superior connectivity that satisfy both regulators and consumers.

But numbers tell only part of the story. JAXPORT’s cargo sales team works directly with shippers to optimize routing, leveraging partnerships to identify backhaul opportunities and intermodal savings.

For Northeast Florida-based furniture company Industry West, this partnership helped inform the placement of a 123,000-square-foot distribution center in Jacksonville, reducing overseas delivery costs in half.