Port Miami is the US gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean — handling cargo from 30+ countries in the region as well as consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and luxury products for the South Florida market. Its trade lane reach is the most geographically diverse of any US port.
| # | Commodity Category | Volume | Top Origins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresh Produce & Food | $8B+/yr | Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica |
| 2 | Consumer Goods & Retail | $10B+/yr | China, Europe, Brazil |
| 3 | Pharmaceuticals | $6B+/yr | Germany, Ireland, Switzerland |
| 4 | Luxury Goods | $4B+/yr | Italy, France, Switzerland |
| 5 | Building Materials | $3B+/yr | Mexico, Brazil, China |
| Country | Port Share | Main Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| China | ~22% | Consumer goods, electronics, furniture, apparel |
| Ecuador | ~9% | Bananas, shrimp, cut flowers, cacao |
| Colombia | ~8% | Coffee, cut flowers, chemicals, food |
| Germany | ~7% | Pharma, machinery, chemicals, vehicles |
| Brazil | ~6% | Steel, tile, food products, pulp |
Chiquita, Dole, Fresh Del Monte, and hundreds of specialty produce importers bring bananas, pineapples, avocados, mangoes, and tropical fruits from Ecuador, Colombia, and Central America through Miami. Cold chain expertise is required.
L'Oreal, LVMH Beauty, Revlon, and specialty cosmetics brands use Miami as their Latin American distribution hub. Beauty and personal care products from France, Germany, and Brazil arrive here for both US and Latin American redistribution.
South Florida's constant construction boom drives demand for tile, marble, granite, and building materials from Brazil, Italy, and China. Importers and distributors serving the Miami/Palm Beach construction market are active at this port.
Representative records from US CBP public manifest filings at Port Miami
| Shipper | Product | US Consignee | Vessel | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIQUITA BRANDS ECUADOR | FRESH BANANAS | CHIQUITA BRANDS INTL | CHIQUITA PROGRESS | 256,000 KG |
| ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS GERMANY | DIAGNOSTIC REAGENTS | ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS CORP | MAERSK CAPE TOWN | 8,200 KG |
| PORCELANATO BRASIL SA | CERAMIC FLOOR TILE | FL TILE DISTRIBUTORS | MSC VALENTINA | 42,400 KG |
| COLTEF COLOMBIA | FRESH CUT FLOWERS | US FLORAL DISTRIBUTORS | SEABOARD SPIRIT | 18,000 KG |
"fresh produce" or "tropical fruit" from Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica"pharmaceutical" imports from Germany, Ireland, Switzerland"luxury goods" or "cosmetics" from France, Italy at Port Miami"tile" or "marble" or "granite" imports from Brazil, Italy, China"cut flowers" imports from Colombia, Ecuador to MiamiNo US port has more connections to Latin American countries than Miami. Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and 20+ other countries all have regular direct services to Port Miami. For freight brokers with Latin American carrier relationships, this is the highest-value port in the US.
Bananas, flowers, mangoes, avocados, and tropical produce require reefer and cold chain handling from port to distribution. This is a specialized freight category with loyal importer relationships and consistent volume.
Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and the broader South Florida market have among the highest per-capita luxury goods consumption in the US. Luxury goods, fine jewelry, and premium cosmetics importers are disproportionately concentrated here.
Miami's geographic position, decades of cultural and business ties to Latin America, bilingual workforce, and well-developed trade infrastructure make it the dominant US gateway for LatAm imports and exports. Most major shipping lines serving Latin America stop at Miami.
Yes. Fresh produce imports are well-documented at Miami — product descriptions include specific commodities (bananas, pineapples, mangoes, cut flowers), and consignees include the major produce importers and distributors serving the Eastern US.
Yes. Cut flowers from Colombia and Ecuador — the world's #1 and #2 flower exporters — arrive at Miami International Airport (primarily) and Port Miami. Both are documented in CBP records and searchable by product description and shipper country.
Search for "tile," "marble," "granite," "limestone," or "porcelain" at Port Miami. Brazilian and Italian tile/stone importers are well-represented. Consignee addresses in the Miami metropolitan area identify local distributors serving the construction market.
10M+ manifest records covering Port Miami and every other US port. Find importers, track volumes, and build your freight prospect list.
Get Early Access — $49/mo →Cancel anytime. No long-term contract.