Vertical Cold Storage announced today that its Medley, Florida facility, located near Miami, is now fully licensed as a customs bonded warehouse. This expansion marks the first Vertical Cold Storage facility to enable importers of frozen foods—such as seafood, beef, pork, and poultry—to defer duties/tariffs while products are stored, creating a more efficient and cost-effective way to navigate international commerce. Other bonded locations for Vertical Cold Storage are in the planning stage.

Customs bonded warehousing has become an increasingly valuable solution in today’s global trade environment, where tariffs and duties add significant costs for frozen food suppliers. By leveraging Vertical Cold Storage’s customs bonded storage capacity, businesses can hold inventory in a duty-free status until products are sold into the U.S. market or re-exported, optimizing cash flow and providing greater flexibility in global supply chain strategies.

“Our new customs bonded warehouse service in Medley is a game-changer for importers facing increased cost of goods sold and holding costs due to changes in tariffs,” said Jim Henderson, Chief Commercial Officer of Vertical Cold Storage. “It allows customers to move frozen seafood, meat, and other protein products seamlessly through Miami and into global markets, while giving them the financial flexibility to manage duties only when and where they need to.”

The Medley facility’s strategic location near PortMiami (Port of Entry Port Code 5201) and Miami International Airport offers direct access to one of the busiest gateways for perishable imports in the United States. This makes Vertical Cold Storage’s Medley facility an ideal hub for international companies seeking to reach North American markets while maintaining secure, temperature-controlled inventory under bonded status.