Jacksonville FTZ sees sharp growth
Imports of foreign goods into the Jacksonville free trade zone increased nearly 50 percent in 2006, while exports from the zone were up nearly 20 percent, according to the trade zone's annual report.
For the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, imports into the trade zone, formally known as Free Trade Zone 64, increased 46 percent. Imports into the wider Jacksonville Customs and Border Protection territory, which includes the trade zone, were up 47 percent, putting the importance of trade zone activity into perspective.
Exports from the FTZ, meanwhile, increase 19 percent from the previous fiscal year.
The annual report said the single largest contributor to the increased volumes was the addition of a new FTZ operation in 2006 for the import and distribution of alcoholic beverages from Europe. The report said one product alone attributed for an increase of 1 million cases a year.
Other gains came from a distributor of consumer leather goods who completed an extensive distribution center renovation, while both general international and domestic markets saw growth that contributed to the large gains in both imports and exports.