FedEx Express said Tuesday it has completed a $72.2 million expansion of its air cargo hub at Miami International Airport, giving e-commerce and perishables shippers doing business in the Americas and Caribbean access to more capacity and capabilities.
The project adds more than 138,000 square feet to the main sort facility, bringing it to a total of more than 282,000 square feet. Enhancements include a new customs clearance area and a new 70,000-square-foot cold storage facility, the largest in the FedEx (NYSE: FDX) global network.
The expansion of the customs clearance area will help speed international operations. The refrigeration zone consists of multiple rooms with temperatures ranging from minus 13 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit that can accommodate growing demand for perishable shipments such as flowers and food, as well as pharmaceuticals and therapeutics.
Miami is a major gateway for cut flowers, fruit and seafood from Latin America.
“The expansion of our Miami hub better positions us to meet growing customer demand and efficiently move increased e-commerce volume through our vast network,” said Richard Smith, regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support, in a news release.
FedEx said that from 2019 to 2020, shipping volume through Miami grew by 31%.
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