The Panama City Port Authority, established in 1945, has been a key player in facilitating trade through northwest Florida for the past 80 years. The port handles over two million tons of breakbulk, bulk, and containerized cargo annually and supports several large manufacturers in the region.
Port Panama City’s mission focuses on expanding regional economic opportunities by offering modern facilities, promoting global trade, and supporting industrial development at various levels. A significant growth project is underway with the East Terminal’s development and improvements to the East Channel and turning basin. This includes plans for an additional warehouse and berth extension. Construction on these projects is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025.
Efforts are also being made to expand container handling capacity at the West Terminal to support increasing regional container trade. The current phase of this expansion is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.
In 2023, Port Panama City completed several capacity expansion projects to support long-term cargo growth. These included constructing a storage dome with a 20,000-ton capacity and upgrading rail corridors connecting terminals to enhance biomass export capabilities.
The port actively participates in regional economic development efforts alongside organizations like the Bay County Economic Development Alliance and Florida’s Great Northwest. It has developed an Intermodal Distribution Center (IDC) to promote warehousing services and provide facilities for transferring commodities between rail and truck.
According to a study by Martin and Associates in 2023, Port Panama City generates $1.6 billion in economic value for the region while supporting over 10,790 jobs in Florida.
