BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Horizon Terminal Services, LLC is driving more automotive business to Broward County's Port Evergladeswith a new long-term lease on 8.67 acres where the company plans to invest $630,000 for a new auto processing facility that would create a minimum of 25 local direct jobs.

"The vehicles that Horizon is importing and exporting through Port Everglades are already creating additional job opportunities in Broward County and supporting the U.S. balance of trade," said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven Cernak.

Horizon is moving to 8.67 acres (a 5.67-acre parcel plus a 3-acre outparcel) with an existing warehouse adjacent to the docks in the Midport section of the port from its 5.73-acre short-term location in the port's Southport area. Relocating to the Midport site provides operational advantages over the Southport site because there is a shorter distance for brand-new vehicles to travel between the ship at berth and terminal yard and a lower potential for the vehicles to be damaged during this transit.

Horizon plans to convert a Port-owned warehouse facility for new vehicle processing at a much lower cost than constructing new facilities to handle a planned increase from 15,000 autos and heavy equipment currently to 40,000-50,000 vehicles annually over the next five years.

"Our focus is on creating added value in the automotive supply chain. We can achieve this through a seamless management and full visibility to our customer base of handling their vehicle flows," said Per Folkesson, President of Horizon Terminal Services. "This will provide operational efficiencies and a reduced environmental footprint. In Port Everglades we have found the ideal port to serve the southern Florida market, which is one of the larger markets in the U.S."

Carrying two million standard car units annually worldwide, Horizon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh Autoliners (Höegh), and is one of the world's leading "roll on/roll off" vessel operators. 

Horizon has imported over 4,300 new General Motors (GM) vehicles from Mexico since operations started at the end of May 2017. These are the first shipments of new imported vehicles to move through the port in many years. Horizon has also exported over 2,000 new Honda vehicles manufactured in the United States, which began arriving at Port Everglades by rail in August 2017. Exports moving through Port Everglades create additional job opportunities and support the US balance of trade.

Additionally, ocean carriers are seeing the benefits of using Port Everglades as a transshipment point for vehicles manufactured in Mexico but destined to South American markets, with almost 400 vehicles being transshipped through Port Everglades in November and December 2017.