JAXPORT Showcases Florida’s Global Trade Strength at Supply Chain Summit

Written by: Marcia Pledger

Jacksonville took center stage this week as supply chain and transportation leaders from across Florida gathered for the 6th annual Florida Supply Chain Summit in Downtown Jacksonville. The event highlighted Florida’s role as a gateway to global trade and positioned JAXPORT as a key driver of that growth.

The Summit drew executives, government officials, and innovators to discuss the future of logistics and trade.

Panels explored issues shaping global commerce, from infrastructure investments and shifting trade routes to the role of Florida’s ports in supporting economic growth. 

Attendees also had the opportunity to network and see firsthand the efficiencies of Jacksonville’s port facilities.

Florida as a Gateway to Global Trade

The event emphasized Florida’s position as a strategic gateway for international commerce. Discussions centered on the state’s infrastructure, rapidly growing population, and expanding role in world markets.

“There isn’t a corner of the world that doesn’t impact Florida ports,” said Dr. Walter Kemmsies of The Kemmsies Group, who moderated the summit’s opening port panel. “Our ports are at the intersection of global trade and the state’s economic future.”

JAXPORT’s location is particularly advantageous, as 100 million consumers can be reached within a one-day truck drive.

JAXPORT on Display

As the host port, Jacksonville and JAXPORT were front and center throughout the event. JAXPORT Chief Commercial Officer Robert Peek welcomed attendees and underscored the port’s strengths.

“We’re very diversified in terms of the size of our port,” Peek said. “Jacksonville is the largest container port in Florida, and we are the third busiest port in the United States for handling automobiles and a national leader in the movement of breakbulk [cargo shipped outside of a shipping container].”

Peek also highlighted Jacksonville’s global connectivity and growing manufacturing capabilities. “We’re seeing companies commit significant capital in Jacksonville because they want to be in port cities where they can import parts and raw materials, and export their finished products,” he said.

Collaboration and Future Growth

The Summit’s panels and discussions reinforced how ongoing investments in Florida’s transportation network position the state for future growth and support supply chain security. “As long as we continue to provide efficient and modern facilities, we can capture the business,” Peek said.

Sustainability and new trade routes were also top of mind. Pnelists pointed to growing opportunities in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Mediterranean and the Americas, alongside efforts to invest in green logistics solutions. “We’ve worked with our partners to find where good business practices meet good environmental practices,” Peek added.

Strengthening Cargo Handling Capabilities

In addition to informative panels, attendees toured cargo operations in action at JAXPORT’s Blount Island terminal, where multi-year, multi-million-dollar projects to upgrade the terminal’s container and auto-handling capabilities are wrapping up this year.

Over the past five years, $3.1 billion investments, either completed or underway, have enhanced capabilities across JAXPORT’s major cargo types: containers, vehicles, and non-containerized cargo.

Jacksonville Shines

With Florida identified as the fastest-growing state in the nation, the Summit spotlighted the importance of ports in supporting both the consumer base and the workforce. Cargo activity through Jacksonville’s seaport supported more than 258,800 jobs in Florida – including more than 30,000 in Northeast Florida alone – and contributed $44 billion in annual economic output for the region and state in 2024.

For Jacksonville, the event was an opportunity to demonstrate its role as a hub for global trade and a driver of Florida’s economic future.

“Florida’s growth and global reach create opportunities not just for Jacksonville, but for every part of the state,” Peek said. “Together, we’re ensuring Florida remains a powerhouse in international trade.