Port Tampa Bay has struck a long-term agreement with GLOVIS America for a 32-acre expansion of its car shipping terminal, increasing the company’s operating footprint by approximately 66% and making room for a planned capacity of 10,000 vehicles.
Announced Monday, Nov. 9, the deal gives GLOVIS control of property alongside the port’s shipping berths, expanding its existing 48.5-acre operation to more than 80 acres. The company expects to add approximately 3,000 vehicle storage spaces, allowing more cars arriving by ship to remain at the terminal instead of being moved to off-site facilities.
GLOVIS and Port Tampa Bay began working together in 2022, and the partnership has since helped move more than 160,000 vehicles through the port, according to Raul Alfonso, its executive vice president and chief commercial officer. With the new acreage, GLOVIS plans to pursue additional business from automakers distributing vehicles throughout Florida and the southeastern United States.
Construction began on the first 12 acres in August, several months before the agreement was announced. Development of the remaining 20 acres is targeted for completion by the end of 2027, and GLOVIS has already renovated a 33,000-square-foot building at the terminal. A new car wash and body shop are also under development to expand the work the company can perform on vehicles before they leave the port.
The additional land is near CSX rail infrastructure and inland transportation connections, providing access to the shipping berths and routes used to move vehicles farther inland. Keeping more cars at the terminal is expected to reduce the need for shuttle trips to outside storage facilities, which GLOVIS says will make it easier to coordinate shipments as volumes change.
“Since the beginning of our partnership in 2022, GLOVIS America has been instrumental in the rapid growth of our roll-on/roll-off business, helping move more than 160,000 vehicles through Port Tampa Bay,” Alfonso said. “We’re grateful for their continued investment and commitment to this operation, which positions the port to help meet Florida’s growing demand for vehicles while supporting businesses and consumers throughout the region.”
Sergio Gutierrez, chief operating officer of GLOVIS America, described Tampa as part of the company’s effort to build a more connected vehicle distribution network across North America. The agreement gives GLOVIS operational control of the additional land, although the companies did not disclose its financial terms or duration.
The first phase of construction is underway, with the remaining acreage scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. The 10,000-vehicle figure represents the terminal’s projected capacity once the expansion is finished.