The US port of Jacksonville (Jaxport) has seen growth for its Asian container volumes in the first half of its fiscal year 2016 over the year-ago period, according to figures from Jacksonville Port Authority.

In the first half of its fiscal year 2016 ended 31 March, Jaxport recorded a 16% year-on-year growth in Asian container shipments, moving 157,689 teu compared to 135,429 teu in the same period of fiscal 2015.

“The Asian container trade is the fastest growing segment of Jaxport’s container cargo business, accounting for 33% of the business in the first six months of FY2016 up from 31% the same period in FY2015 and just 7% in FY2014.

“The port has recorded an average of 28.5% annual growth in Asian container volumes during the past five years,” the port authority said.

The US port offers direct trade with Asian ports through both the Panama and Suez Canals and currently 13 of the 17 global ocean carriers serving the Asia-US trade lane offer service through Jaxport.

Jacksonville Port Authority pointed out that two major harbour improvement proejcts are currently underway, including the project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet, allowing large containerships to call on the US East Coast and accessing the port’s terminals.

Jaxport also continues to invest in major growth projects including a new on-dock rail facility opening during the third quarter of this year, new 100-gauge container cranes to be operation at Blount Island during the last quarter, and ongoing upgrades to terminal berths, docks and rail.

“Other areas of Jaxport’s business continue to grow as well, with container volumes to and from Puerto Rico growing 10% and the shipment of breakbulk cargoes, such as fertilizer, metals, forest products, perishables and project cargo increasing 34% in the first six months of the current fiscal year over the same period last year,” the port authority said.