Port Everglades
Port Everglades is one of Florida’s leading seaports and a major ocean freight gateway for South Florida, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and global trade. Located in Broward County near Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, the port supports containerized cargo, refrigerated cargo, breakbulk, RoRo, liquid bulk, petroleum products, cruise activity, and regional distribution.
Port Everglades is especially important for importers and exporters connected to consumer goods, food and perishables, retail, eCommerce, automotive logistics, construction materials, manufacturing, energy distribution, project cargo, and trade with the Caribbean and Latin America.
The port is owned by Broward County and operated through the Port Everglades Department. Its strategic location, container terminals, Foreign-Trade Zone No. 25, highway access, airport proximity, and strong Caribbean and Latin American trade connections make it a practical gateway for companies moving cargo to and from South Florida.
Port Everglades Overview
| Port Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Port name | Port Everglades |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| Region | Broward County / South Florida / U.S. East Coast |
| UN/LOCODE | USPEF |
| Port type | Seaport / container port / cruise port / petroleum port / multipurpose port |
| Port owner | Broward County |
| Port operator | Port Everglades Department |
| Main container terminals | Port Everglades Terminal LLC, Florida International Terminal LLC, and other cargo terminal operators |
| Main cargo focus | Containers, refrigerated cargo, petroleum products, breakbulk, RoRo, automobiles, dry bulk, liquid bulk |
| Main terminal types | Container terminals, petroleum terminals, breakbulk facilities, RoRo terminals, cruise terminals, Foreign-Trade Zone facilities |
| Cargo types | Containers, perishables, consumer goods, machinery, vehicles, steel, lumber, aggregate, cement, petroleum products, boats, yachts, general cargo |
| Suitable for | Importers, exporters, freight forwarders, retailers, food shippers, eCommerce sellers, manufacturers, automotive companies, energy companies, distributors |
Why Ship Through Port Everglades?
Port Everglades is strategically positioned in South Florida, close to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Hollywood, Dania Beach, major highways, airports, warehouses, distribution centers, and one of the largest consumer markets in the southeastern United States.
For importers, Port Everglades provides access to South Florida retail, food distribution, construction, hospitality, cruise supply chains, eCommerce fulfillment, and regional inland delivery. For exporters, the port supports cargo moving from Florida and the wider U.S. market to the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, and other global destinations.
The port is especially relevant for businesses shipping containers, refrigerated cargo, perishable goods, consumer products, machinery, vehicles, construction materials, breakbulk cargo, project freight, and cargo connected to Caribbean and Latin American trade lanes.
Container Shipping Through Port Everglades
Port Everglades is one of Florida’s leading container ports and handles more than 1 million TEUs annually. Its container services connect South Florida with more than 150 ports in over 70 countries, with particularly strong links to the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, and global ocean freight networks.
Businesses use Port Everglades for:
- Import containers into South Florida
- Export containers from Florida and the southeastern United States
- Full container load shipments
- Less than container load shipments
- Reefer containers for food, seafood, fruit, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and temperature-sensitive cargo
- Consumer goods, retail inventory, machinery, automotive parts, construction materials, packaging, electronics, and industrial cargo
- Cargo moving to or from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Miami-Dade County, and wider Florida
- Trade lanes connected to the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and U.S. East Coast networks
- Shipments connecting through regional hubs such as Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, New York/New Jersey, Kingston, Freeport, Caucedo, Cartagena, Colon, Manzanillo, Panama, and Houston
For larger shipments, FCL shipping is usually suitable when cargo can fill a 20ft or 40ft container. For smaller shipments, LCL shipping allows businesses to move partial container loads without paying for a full container.
Port Everglades Freight Rates
Freight Shipping Cost from & to Port Everglades for a 20-foot Container
Port Capacity and Terminal Infrastructure
Port Everglades has container terminals, petroleum facilities, breakbulk areas, RoRo operations, cruise terminals, warehouse access, truck gates, and Foreign-Trade Zone facilities. The port’s Southport area is especially important for containerized cargo and supports major ocean carriers, terminal operators, and international shipping services.
Port Everglades is also South Florida’s main seaport for petroleum products, including gasoline and jet fuel. This makes it important not only for containerized trade, but also for regional energy distribution across Florida.
The port’s cargo infrastructure supports:
- Container handling
- Reefer container operations
- Breakbulk cargo
- RoRo cargo
- Automobiles and trucks
- Boats and yachts
- Dry bulk cargo
- Liquid bulk cargo
- Petroleum products
- Foreign-Trade Zone activity
- Customs examination and inspection processes
- Trucking and inland distribution
Port Everglades also benefits from access to major South Florida transport corridors, including I-595, I-95, I-75, the Florida Turnpike, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Miami International Airport, and regional logistics facilities.
Main Cargo Handled Through Port Everglades
Port Everglades handles a diversified cargo mix that includes containers, refrigerated cargo, petroleum products, vehicles, dry bulk, breakbulk, RoRo, boats, yachts, and general commercial cargo.
| Cargo Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Containerized imports | Consumer goods, electronics, machinery, food products, retail inventory, packaging, household goods |
| Containerized exports | Food products, manufactured goods, machinery, vehicle parts, industrial goods, consumer products |
| Perishables | Fruit, vegetables, seafood, frozen food, chilled goods, temperature-sensitive food products |
| Refrigerated cargo | Reefer containers for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, seafood, produce, and frozen cargo |
| RoRo cargo | Cars, trucks, trailers, rolling machinery, commercial vehicles, heavy equipment |
| Automobile cargo | New and used vehicles, trucks, vehicle parts, automotive components |
| Breakbulk cargo | Steel, lumber, wood products, machinery, equipment, oversized commercial cargo |
| Dry bulk cargo | Cement, aggregate, gypsum, tallow, construction-related materials |
| Liquid bulk cargo | Petroleum products, fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, refined energy products |
| Boats and yachts | Recreational boats, yachts, marine equipment, vessel-related cargo |
| Project cargo | Heavy equipment, industrial components, infrastructure cargo, oversized machinery |
| General cargo | Pallets, cartons, packaged goods, mixed freight, commercial cargo |
Port Everglades is especially relevant for shippers that need access to South Florida, the Caribbean, Latin America, refrigerated supply chains, petroleum distribution, cruise-related logistics, consumer markets, and U.S. East Coast shipping networks.
Shipping to Port Everglades
Importers ship cargo to Port Everglades from the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada, and other U.S. and global trade regions.
Common imports to Port Everglades and South Florida include:
- Consumer goods and retail inventory
- Food and beverage products
- Fresh produce and perishables
- Frozen and chilled goods
- Seafood
- Electronics and appliances
- Machinery and spare parts
- Automotive parts and vehicles
- Construction materials
- Steel, lumber, cement, and aggregate
- Packaging materials
- Furniture and household goods
- Medical and healthcare products
- Petroleum products and fuel
- Boats, yachts, and marine equipment
- General cargo
- Project cargo and oversized freight
When shipping to Port Everglades, importers should compare the total landed cost rather than only the ocean freight rate. Total landed cost may include origin charges, sea freight, destination charges, customs duty, merchandise processing fees, harbor maintenance fees, terminal handling, customs broker fees, documentation fees, storage, demurrage, detention, trucking, inland delivery, inspection fees, and cargo insurance.
Use the iContainers ocean freight calculator to estimate shipping costs and compare available freight options.
Shipping From Port Everglades
Exporters use Port Everglades for cargo moving from South Florida, the southeastern United States, and inland U.S. markets to the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, and other global destinations.
Common export cargo from Port Everglades includes:
- Food and beverage products
- Frozen and chilled products
- Consumer goods
- Machinery and spare parts
- Automotive parts and vehicles
- Construction materials
- Industrial equipment
- Electronics
- Medical and healthcare products
- Boats, yachts, and marine cargo
- Retail and eCommerce shipments
- Chemicals and packaged industrial goods
- Project cargo
- Breakbulk cargo
- Containerized freight
- General commercial cargo
For exporters, the best shipping option depends on cargo volume, destination, commodity type, Incoterm, sailing schedule, container availability, terminal choice, customs documentation, pickup location, and required delivery time.
FCL is usually more efficient for larger commercial volumes, while LCL can work well for smaller shipments, samples, cartons, pallets, and partial container loads.
FCL vs LCL Shipping Through Port Everglades
| Shipping Option | Best For | Main Advantage | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCL shipping | Full 20ft or 40ft container loads | Dedicated container and fewer cargo touchpoints | Best when shipment volume justifies a full container |
| LCL shipping | Smaller shipments, cartons, pallets, samples, partial loads | Pay only for the space used | May involve consolidation or deconsolidation through Port Everglades, Miami, Savannah, New York/New Jersey, Kingston, Cartagena, Colon, or another hub |
| Reefer container | Produce, seafood, frozen goods, chilled goods, pharmaceuticals | Keeps cargo at controlled temperature | Requires equipment availability, plug capacity, and correct temperature settings |
| RoRo shipping | Cars, trucks, trailers, rolling machinery | Efficient for cargo that can roll on and off vessels | Depends on vessel service, terminal capability, and cargo type |
| Breakbulk shipping | Steel, lumber, machinery, oversized cargo | Useful when cargo is not suitable for standard containers | Requires special handling and early coordination |
| Dry bulk shipping | Cement, aggregate, gypsum, tallow | Efficient for unpackaged bulk commodities | Depends on berth, storage, and commodity handling requirements |
| Liquid bulk shipping | Petroleum products, fuel, gasoline, jet fuel | Supports large-volume energy cargo | Requires specialized liquid bulk infrastructure and regulatory compliance |
| Project cargo | Heavy or complex industrial shipments | Supports infrastructure, construction, and industrial projects | Needs coordination with carrier, terminal, customs broker, and inland transport |
For shippers comparing route options, iContainers’ transit time calculator can help estimate shipping times before booking.
Customs Clearance at Port Everglades and the United States
Cargo imported or exported through Port Everglades must comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements and any product-specific rules from agencies such as the FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, CPSC, or other U.S. authorities when applicable.
Importers and exporters should prepare accurate shipment data before cargo arrival or departure, including product descriptions, HS codes, customs value, country of origin, consignee details, shipper details, manufacturer details, and supporting documentation.
Commercial shipments through Port Everglades may require documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or sea waybill, entry documentation, certificate of origin, import license or export license when applicable, insurance certificate, inspection certificate, and product-specific regulatory documents.
Regulated goods such as food products, agricultural goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronics, vehicles, cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco, plants, animals, hazardous cargo, and restricted items may require additional permits, testing, inspection, or agency approval.
For more general guidance, read iContainers’ guide to customs clearance.
Documents Needed for Shipping Through Port Everglades
Most commercial ocean freight shipments to or from Port Everglades require:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or sea waybill
- Import or export customs documentation
- HS code and product description
- Importer of record details, when importing into the United States
- Exporter details, when exporting from the United States
- Certificate of origin, when required
- Import license or export license, when applicable
- Inspection certificate, when applicable
- Insurance certificate, when applicable
- Dangerous goods declaration, when applicable
- Safety data sheet, for regulated chemicals or hazardous cargo
- Phytosanitary certificate, when applicable
- Veterinary certificate, when applicable
- Food safety or agricultural documents, when applicable
- FDA, USDA, EPA, DOT, or other agency documentation, when applicable
- Vehicle documentation, when applicable
- Delivery order or cargo release documents
- Customs broker authorization, when using a customs broker
- Inland transport documents, when cargo moves by truck, rail, or feeder vessel
Documentation should be complete and consistent before cargo arrival or departure. Incorrect HS codes, incomplete cargo descriptions, missing permits, inaccurate invoices, inconsistent consignee details, missing agency documents, or late filing can delay customs clearance and increase costs.
Common Shipping Routes for Port Everglades
Port Everglades connects South Florida with the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the U.S. East Coast, and wider global trade lanes through direct ocean services, feeder services, trucking, rail, and regional transshipment networks.
| Trade Lane | Common Cargo |
|---|---|
| Caribbean to Port Everglades | Food products, perishables, consumer goods, retail cargo, general cargo |
| Central America to Port Everglades | Produce, seafood, apparel, consumer goods, packaging, general cargo |
| South America to Port Everglades | Perishables, food products, machinery, consumer goods, industrial cargo |
| Europe to Port Everglades | Machinery, beverages, food products, automotive parts, consumer goods |
| Asia to Port Everglades | Electronics, machinery, furniture, retail inventory, industrial inputs |
| Mexico to Port Everglades | Consumer goods, automotive parts, food products, manufactured goods |
| Port Everglades to Caribbean | Retail inventory, food products, construction materials, machinery, vehicles |
| Port Everglades to Central America | Consumer goods, machinery, automotive parts, construction materials |
| Port Everglades to South America | Industrial goods, machinery, vehicle parts, food products, general cargo |
| Port Everglades to Europe | Food products, machinery, marine cargo, consumer goods, industrial cargo |
| Port Everglades to Asia | Machinery, consumer goods, automotive parts, industrial products |
| Port Everglades to U.S. East Coast hubs | Transshipment cargo, repositioned containers, regional commercial freight |
Routing may involve direct services or transshipment through Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, New York/New Jersey, Kingston, Freeport, Caucedo, Cartagena, Colon, Manzanillo, Panama, Houston, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Valencia, Algeciras, Singapore, Shanghai, Ningbo, and other hubs depending on carrier schedule, cargo type, and final destination.
When Should You Use Port Everglades Instead of Another Florida Port?
Port Everglades can be suitable when:
- The cargo origin or destination is in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, or wider South Florida
- The shipment is connected to Caribbean, Central American, South American, or South Florida trade
- The cargo is containerized and suitable for FCL or LCL shipping
- The shipment involves refrigerated cargo, perishables, food products, consumer goods, vehicles, RoRo cargo, petroleum products, breakbulk, boats, yachts, or project cargo
- Inland delivery distance is shorter through Port Everglades than through PortMiami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Canaveral, Savannah, or another gateway
- The shipper needs access to South Florida warehousing, distribution centers, airports, highways, or Foreign-Trade Zone facilities
- The shipment benefits from Port Everglades’ strong refrigerated cargo and Latin America/Caribbean trade connections
- The cargo requires access to South Florida’s consumer, cruise, hospitality, retail, and food distribution markets
Another Florida or U.S. port may be more suitable when the shipment requires closer access to central Florida, northern Florida, Gulf Coast markets, inland rail corridors, or specific carrier services. PortMiami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Canaveral, Savannah, Charleston, Houston, or New York/New Jersey may be more practical depending on cargo type, final destination, sailing schedule, equipment availability, and delivery deadline.
The right port choice should be based on total landed cost, sailing schedule, inland distance, customs requirements, cargo type, equipment availability, terminal capability, storage needs, reefer requirements, carrier service, and required delivery date.
How to Get an Ocean Freight Quote for Port Everglades
To get a freight quote to or from Port Everglades, prepare the following details:
- Origin and destination
- Port-to-port, door-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-door requirement
- Cargo weight and dimensions
- Number of pallets, cartons, boxes, vehicles, trailers, or containers
- FCL, LCL, reefer, RoRo, breakbulk, dry bulk, liquid bulk, automobile cargo, general cargo, hazardous, or project cargo preference
- Commodity description and HS code, if available
- Cargo ready date
- Incoterm
- Customs clearance requirements
- Final pickup or delivery address, if needed
- Inland movement requirement, such as trucking, rail, warehouse delivery, airport connection, or regional distribution
- Special handling requirements, such as reefer cargo, hazardous cargo, temperature control, oversized cargo, food inspection, vehicle handling, customs inspection, or high-value cargo
- Preferred carrier, terminal, trucking provider, warehouse, or transshipment hub, if already specified
With iContainers, businesses can compare ocean freight options online, review available rates, and manage international shipments through a digital booking process.
FAQ About the Port Everglades
Port Everglades is located in Broward County, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach in South Florida.
The UN/LOCODE for Port Everglades is USPEF.
Common cargo includes containers, refrigerated goods, perishables, consumer goods, machinery, vehicles, boats, yachts, steel, lumber, cement, aggregate, petroleum products, dry bulk, liquid bulk, and project cargo.
Port Everglades is owned by Broward County and operated through the Port Everglades Department.
Yes. Port Everglades is an important gateway for refrigerated and perishable cargo, including produce, seafood, frozen food, chilled goods, and other temperature-sensitive shipments.
Yes. Port Everglades handles RoRo cargo, automobiles, trucks, trailers, rolling machinery, boats, yachts, and vehicle-related freight.
Port Everglades serves South Florida, the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, and wider global trade lanes.
Reference Links
- Port Everglades official website
- Port Everglades cargo overview
- Port Everglades containerized cargo
- Port Everglades cargo types
- Port Everglades terminal operators
- Port Everglades Foreign-Trade Zone No. 25
- UN/LOCODE United States list
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale
- Florida Ports Council: Port Everglades