BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Global ocean carrier CMA CGM's AMERICAS XL service made its first call to Port Everglades on Saturday, Jan. 7. According to CMA CGM, the newly launched AMERICAS XL is the only direct service on the market connecting the West Coast of South America to the East Coast of the United States. 

Port Everglades is the first U.S. stop on the northbound portion of the service from Cartagena, Colombia, and the rotation will reach down as far south as San Antonio, Chile. CMA CGM also offers fast transshipment connections in Cartagena or Kingston, Jamaica, from Brazil, Asia, Northern Europe, and the Mediterranean. 

"Port Everglades historically is the primary link to the North-South trade lanes, so CMA CGM is a perfect complement to the ocean carriers already calling South Florida," said CEO and Port Director Jonathan Daniels. "I especially want to congratulate Florida International Terminal (FIT) on bringing this service to our Port. CMA CGM's direct service will give Port Everglades a decided advantage as we will be the first U.S. port of call from South America's West Coast." 

The weekly AMERICAS XL service will carry containerized perishables, fresh fruit, and dry and project cargo. FIT is the terminal operator for the service.

About Port Everglades

A global powerhouse for international trade, Port Everglades handles an average of more than one million TEUs annually (20-foot equivalent units, the industry standard measurement for container volumes) and serves as a gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Located within the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, Port Everglades is in the heart of one of the world's largest consumer regions, including a constant flow of approximately 112 million visitors statewide and 6 million residents within an 80-mile radius. Port Everglades has direct access to the interstate highway system and the Florida East Coast Railway's 43-acre intermodal container transfer facility. The Port is closer to the Atlantic Shipping Lanes than any other Southeastern U.S. port. Ongoing capital improvements and expansion totaling $3 billion within the next 20 years ensure that Port Everglades continues to handle future growth in container traffic. More information about Broward County's Port Everglades is available at porteverglades.net or by calling the toll-free in the United States 1-800-421-0188 or emailing PortEvergladesCargo@broward.org.

January 10, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Joy Oglesby, PIO
Port Everglades External Affairs and Cruise Services
954-468-0195 (O)
954-802-4457 (C)
joyoglesby@broward.org