PortMiami moves more cruise passengers than any port in the world. But cruises are just the beginning. The port handles billions in cargo, connecting Miami to Latin America and the Caribbean in ways that define the city's economy.
The trade relationship is mutual. Miami exports American goods south; imports flow north. The port employs thousands directly and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs indirectly. When the port thrives, Miami thrives.
Recent investments have deepened the channel and expanded capacity. The port can now handle the largest container ships, competing with Savannah and other East Coast ports for Asian trade routed through the expanded Panama Canal.
The cruise industry adds another dimension. Millions of passengers pass through annually, spending money in Miami before and after their voyages. The cruise lines themselves headquarter here, adding white-collar jobs to the longshoremen.
It's not glamorous work. Ports don't generate Instagram content. But PortMiami is the foundation on which much of Miami's prosperity rests.
