SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
FLORIDA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Florida’ s population is estimated to reach approximately 23.66 million by the end of 2026.
Driven by population growth, infrastructure investment, expanding trade activity and rising consumer demand, ports and logistics businesses across Florida have seen increased activity in recent years.
The state’ s population is expected to reach approximately 23.66 million by the end of 2026, according to the World Population Review, reflecting ongoing growth. While net migration has stabilized, the number of inhabitants continues to grow at a steady rate, with 200,000 new residents added between 2024 and 2025.
Sustained population growth presents opportunities for companies across the maritime and logistics industries, many of which have been making strategic investments to meet the needs of the state’ s expanding population.
Florida’ s population growth has had“ a meaningful, measurable impact” on business operations, especially cargo activity, said Jorge Hernández, director of business development at Port Everglades.
“ In short, Florida’ s population growth has directly contributed to stronger cargo volumes, increased vessel activity and greater importance of the port in the region’ s supply chain,” he said.“ As the state’ s population increased, demand for consumer goods and regional distribution also expanded.”
Cargo vessel calls increased 54.7 % over the past decade, rising from 2,109 to 3,263. Containerized trade through Port Everglades rose 12.6 % since fiscal year 2016, an increase of 130,326 TEUs. Import throughput for essential commodities, including apparel, beverages, food products and furniture, has also risen by 28.35 %.
Petroleum cargo volumes have increased with population growth in South Florida. Port Everglades supplies one-third of the state’ s petroleum needs, according to port data. Gasoline, diesel and jet fuel supplied energy to 12 counties, with the port handling a record 131,855,621 barrels of liquid bulk products, or 5.5 billion gallons, in fiscal year 2025. Port Everglades’ petroleum throughput rose from 112.7 million barrels in fiscal year 2014 to 129.3 million in fiscal year 2024, port figures show. This 15 % increase supported higher levels of driving, trucking, air travel and air cargo.
“[ Population ] growth has reinforced Florida’ s role as a critical logistics hub, not only to serve the residents and businesses, but also as a gateway for trade with the Caribbean and Central America,” said Andrew Davis, vice president of logistics operations at Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corporation.
“ As volumes have grown, reliability and capacity have become even more important,” he added.“ We have responded by continuing to invest in vessels, terminals, technology and supply chain capabilities that support containerized and breakbulk cargo, land transportation and warehousing, and energy logistics originating in or transiting through our Florida ports.”
Population growth has driven infrastructure expansion across Florida’ s maritime ports and airports, noted Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson.
“ We’ re one of the fastest-growing states now, the third-largest state in the nation. We have almost 24 million residents, over 100 million visitors a year,” he said.“ We’ ve seen all-time records in almost every cargo area that we handle— steel, petroleum, lumber, aggregate, road-building materials, automobiles, consumer goods, containers. We’ re seeing the impact.”
The port’ s Vision 2030 strategic plan is a key element behind its ability to meet growth demands.
“ We developed this plan when we saw the population growing— historic growth,” Anderson said.“ It outlined what our capital needs would be [ and ] what our infrastructure needs would be across all areas of the port enterprise … to invest in infrastructure so that we would be able, as a port complex, to handle the increased cargo that’ s coming through.”
Vision 2030 includes initiatives such as meeting central Florida’ s long-term energy needs through the port’ s petroleum facility, pursuing trade opportunities created by the Panama Canal expansion, expanding and diversifying the region’ s industrial economy and cargo base, and optimizing cruise vessel capability.
“ It’ s been a plan that we’ ve had to continually modify because of world dynamics; you have to have a good field of vision and be nimble to change. But we’ re following the plan, and it’ s really showing results in our ability to meet the needs of the population,” Anderson said. www. joc. com June 1, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 47