SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
PHILADELPHIA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Approximately two-thirds of the US is serviceable within 48 hours from Philadelphia.
PhilaPort approximately 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, is home to more than 700 manufacturers and is one of the fastest-growing regions in the Northeast, according to US Census Bureau data.
Manufacturing drives Lehigh Valley, with the sector representing 16 % of the region’ s GDP and outpacing the nation as a whole. Manufacturing represents 12 % of the United States’ economy.
“ That’ s giving us wind in the sails to expand the Port of Philadelphia, and what’ s proving that point are the investors and the Wall Street firms that are investing in the same area,” Mahoney said. Mahoney pointed to Hilco Redevelopment Partners’( HRP’ s) Bellwether District development, which seeks to transform the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery property in South Philadelphia into a 14 million-squarefoot campus designed to accommodate companies across a variety of industries. The first phase at the Bellwether District features two buildings totaling 1 million square feet, according to HRP.
In addition, the newly completed Keystone Trade Center— an industrial campus built on a former steel plant in Bucks County— has been fully leased. The modern, Class A logistics complex encompasses more than 5.5 million square feet. In March, Northpoint
www. joc. com
Development Inc., announced plans to move forward with proposals to expand the site with a new, 2 million-square-foot data center campus.
“ It’ s making us feel very bullish on what’ s going on in Philadelphia and where we ultimately want to get to as quickly as possible,” Mahoney said.
These developments reflect what many in Philadelphia already know: the region is rife with potential and opportunity.
The city’ s access to the Northeast, one of the nation’ s wealthiest consumer markets, and its proximity to retail distribution centers and Class I rail connections allows customers to reach destinations throughout North America— from CSX’ s rail service to the Midwest to CN’ s service to the Toronto and Montreal markets.
“ All one has to do is look where Philadelphia is geographically on the East Coast; we’ re strategically located between Baltimore and New York, providing a competitive edge as it relates to inland distribution,” said Tom Mutz, vice president of global business development for PENN Warehousing & Distribution.
“ About two-thirds of the US and most of Eastern Canada can be served within 48 hours,” he added.
“[ Investments ] are making us feel very bullish on what’ s going on in Philadelphia and where we ultimately want to get to.”
Over the years, Philadelphia has built itself up as a major gateway for refrigerated cargo, an advantage for companies such as SeaCube Containers, which buys and leases refrigerated containers throughout the world.
“ The market for consumer goods like apparel, electronics, furniture and toys goes up and down based on the overall economy and consumer spending. It can be volatile at times,” said Robert F. Sappio, CEO of SeaCube.“ The movement of perishables and foodstuffs around the world is far more stable and less tied to GDP. People have to eat, and more and
May 5, 2025 | Journal of Commerce 73