PALMETTO, Fla. — SeaPort Manatee is making waves, moving more cargo than ever before.

The 55-year-old port handled nearly 12 million tons of cargo in fiscal year 2025, which concluded at the end of September.

What You Need To Know • SeaPort Manatee handled 11.85 million tons of cargo in the 2025 fiscal year • This is an all-time record • Troy Layton , the Director of Operations and Maintenance at SeaPort Manatee, says there was new business this year that contributed to that record number

It starts with customers like Carlos Diaz, the COO of World Direct Shipping.

The international company uses four ports, but Seaport Manatee is its only American trade hub.

“We concentrate on the Mexico–U.S. trade,” Diaz said.

World Direct Shipping is one of SeaPort Manatee’s largest customers.

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