Foreign-Trade Zone No. 25 (FTZ) at Port Everglades leads Florida in the value of international goods handled through its facilities, according to findings in a new state-by-state report released by the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ).

Sixty-three percent of all Florida FTZ exports were handled through Port Everglades' FTZ No. 25, valued at more than $1.107 billion. When combined with another $928 million of imports, total goods valued at more than $2.025 billion were handled through the Port's FTZ. This represented 35 percent of all FTZ commodities in Florida.

There are 20 FTZs organized in the state of Florida according to NAFTZ's report, "The impact of Foreign-Trade Zones on the 50 states & Puerto Rico," which is based on fiscal year 2009 data and released July 20, 2011. 



"South Florida and the FTZ at Port Everglades are poised to lead the state in the federal government's National Export Initiative (NEI) because our proximity to South American, Central America and the Caribbean makes it efficient to transport goods through our seaports and airports. We live in one of the few regions in the United States that actually exports more goods than are imported," said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen. "Broward County is part of U.S. Customs District 52, which posted an export surplus record of $22.2 billion in calendar year 2010 -- the highest in the United States. Port Everglades had the third highest export surplus of all seaports in the United States." 



In May 2011, the U.S. Commercial Service relocated its Broward-based Export Assistance Center to Port Everglades as part of the NEI. Ports are being targeted as a key component of this initiative because of the expertise seaport professionals have in foreign trade.