Container
Expanded Capacity – Next-level Distribution Advantages
Florida is booming, and Port Tampa Bay is expanding capacity to keep pace – delivering faster, smarter, Florida‑first supply chain solutions right next door to the unrelenting demand that defines the central part of the state.
As a whole, Florida boasts 23 million residents and more than 143 million annual visitors. The state has surged past New York to become the third‑largest state in the nation. And the Tampa–Orlando I‑4 Corridor is one of the fastest‑growing regions in the country, home to 8 million folks and about half the state’s visitors. It’s also and the nucleus of Florida’s busiest distribution establishments.
That many people and business ventures need a lot of, well, just about everything.
Indeed, this corridor is the largest consumer market in the Southeast U.S. That’s why Port Tampa Bay is expanding capacity and positioning itself as the go‑to gateway for businesses ready to move products faster, smarter, cheaper, and closer to the people who need them.
Cargo
Cargo Capabilities
Florida's Distribution Hub
Capacity That Delivers
- 500,000 square feet of warehouse and transit shed space.
- 135,000=square-foot on‑dock cold storage facility.
- 7,000 feet of berth for seamless cargo handling.
- Six gantry cranes, plus mobile harbor cranes.
- Dedicated I‑4 Expressway connector ramp for port truck traffic.
- 43‑foot deep water channel (soon to be 47 feet with a harbor deepening starting now).
- Diversified cargo handling sites and equipment, for steel and other breakbulk, project cargo, rolling cargo, bulk, and the latest success story – containers.
Tampa Bay - Huge Market, Huge Advantage
- Closest port to the I‑4 and I‑75 corridors, home to the state’s biggest cluster of distribution centers.
- With a long-arm reach into the Southeast and up to the Northeast and Midwest.
- With no congestion – that translates into faster, more reliable deliveries.
- Weekly direct sailings from Asia, Central & South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
- World-class on‑dock cold storage facility.
- Abundant northbound backhaul trucking capacity that is always on sale (50% lower delivery costs compared to southbound rates).
Executive Shipper's Council
- 250+ importers and exporters within 100 miles of Tampa, controlling more than 300,000 TEUs/year.
- Serving Central Florida via Tampa saves $800 per container compared to more distant, congested ports.
- Potential local market: 500,000 TEUs within a day’s drive.
- Industry clusters include food and beverage, citrus, furniture, retail goods, steel, and fertilizer.
- Major players: Publix, Sysco, Rooms to Go, Coca‑Cola, PepsiCo, Disney, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Mosaic, Bealls, Southern Wine & Spirits, and more.
Tampa Gateway Rail – Innovation on Track
Developed through a public‑private partnership with Kinder Morgan and CSX, the Tampa Gateway Rail created:
- The nation’s first ethanol unit train to pipeline distribution system
- Florida’s first on‑dock unit train capability
- $11 million invested by Port Tampa Bay and CSX, plus Kinder Morgan’s expansion to handle 100‑car unit trains. This project has exceeded expectations, cementing Port Tampa Bay as Florida’s leading energy gateway.
I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector
A $600 million project delivered a dedicated truck ramp linking Port Tampa Bay directly to I‑4 and I‑75. With elevated lanes and seamless connections, it ensures cargo moves quickly and efficiently across Florida and beyond.
Tampa’s Container Capacity – Built for What’s Next
Port Tampa Bay is scaling up to be the go‑to container gateway – putting a smile on Floridian faces as buyers get their goods quickly and inexpensively, and as sellers grow their production with fast and easy access to global markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a shipment?
- If you are scheduling a shipment for export or import via Port Tampa Bay, visit our Sailing Schedule page to contact one of our ocean carriers.
- If you need help with your logistics, there is a list of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders in our online Directory.
What will Port Tampa Bay charge me to ship my shipment?
No, individual shippers are not charged. Rates are charged to the port terminal operators and ocean carriers.
How do I track my shipment?
- Contact your Customs Broker, Freight Forwarder and/or Ocean Carrier to help track your shipment.
Can I ship goods to Europe or South America via Port Tampa Bay?
Visit our Sailing Schedule page to view all of our ocean carriers. Multiple connection points are available.
Does the Port sell shipping containers, how to buy containers?
- The Port does not own or sell shipping containers.
- For a listing of companies that do sell containers please, visit our online Directory under 'container & chassis sales, lease & repair'.
I bought an item from (insert country) and it says that the item is coming to Tampa?
"Tampa" does not mean that the "Port of Discharge" is the Port of Tampa/Port Tampa Bay.
Check your paperwork and review the Port of Discharge or the Final Destination.
Having a Freight Forwarder and/or Customs Broker can be very helpful.