To this end, Tampa Port Authority has signed a letter of intent with AMPORTS, one of the largest vehicle processors in North America, to develop a new terminal dedicated to the import and export of vehicles and rolling stock.
Paul Anderson, chief executive officer, Tampa Port Authority, said it’s a tremendous win for the Tampa Bay region.
“AMPORTS’ choice highlights our strategic position to provide the automobile industry an efficient short sea solution to our Florida market and beyond”, he said.
The aim is to act as a gateway for US produced vehicles destined to South America and the Caribbean.
AMPORTS has nine full service facilities, all of which are located at terminals with good rail links and are trucking hubs. It has three operations in Mexico consisting of port facilities located in Altamira and Lazaro Cardenas, an inland rail head facility located in Toluca.
Mexico’s growing capacity for automotive production is spurring demand for efficient and low cost distribution to the US market – distributing new cars from the centre of the state of Florida should provide an optimal supply chain for growing trade.