The latest US tariffs have certainly added complexity to global trade, but the container shipping industry has proven to be highly adaptable.
Closer to home, South Florida’s demand remains resilient.
At Port Everglades, our trade is largely with Latin America and the Caribbean. That means we are somewhat insulated from the direct impacts of tariffs involving China — although not entirely immune.
While some global markets saw a slowdown for much of 2025, Port Everglades maintained steady TEU growth, which underscores the resilience of our trade network.
We recognize that tariffs are unlikely to disappear, and the industry is adjusting accordingly through diversified sourcing, flexible routing and smarter logistics planning.
Whenever possible in our capacity as a landlord port, we work closely with ocean carriers, beneficial cargo operators and our marine terminal partners to keep service levels stable.
We also leverage our expertise and advantages to help our cargo customers. Tools such as our Foreign-Trade Zone No. 25 help shippers manage US Customs duty exposure. On the competitive-edge side, our strong operational performance — noted in the recent Container Port Performance Index — keeps dwell times low and cargo moving efficiently.
I am hopeful that the same maritime industry that over time has navigated geopolitical shifts, economic headwinds and natural disturbances will continue to find ways to adapt and keep goods moving efficiently.