JAXPORT bulk cargo partners: paving the way for Florida’s continued growth
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Written By Marcia Pledger
When traveling near the Jacksonville Port Authority’s (JAXPORT’s) Dames Point Marine Terminal, drivers pass what can easily be mistaken for an active construction site—large piles of crushed stone and other materials. These piles are cargo, known as “dry bulk,” and are among the essential goods moving through JAXPORT that we use in our everyday lives.
Bulk cargo refers to unpackaged dry materials, such as cement, gravel, and limestone, that are transported in large quantities aboard vessels specifically designed for this purpose.
The majority of these bulk materials will ultimately be used in construction projects. Bulk materials, particularly asphalt, are an essential material that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) uses for road construction and repair projects throughout the state.
Transporting these materials safely and efficiently requires expertise and skill. JAXPORT’s terminal operators are experienced in moving a variety of bulk cargo and offer customized shipping solutions tailored to the unique needs of this cargo type.
JAXPORT’s Dames Point terminal is home to two dry bulk providers, Martin Marietta and Cemex, which together offer a combined 41 acres of dry bulk space.
JAXPORT partner Martin Marietta has been a port tenant for approximately 30 years, starting with a predecessor company that was purchased in the 1990s. The company brings in dry bulk shipments through JAXPORT every month.
Throughout the country, Martin Marietta is a leading national supplier of building materials including aggregates (natural raw materials such as gravel), cement, and ready-mixed concrete. Basically, the company supplies resources to build foundations that help communities thrive.
“We are a mining company. That’s what we do. We mine and sell rocks,” simply put said Chris Wilson, Area Sales Manager for Martin Marietta. “I can tell you that rocks are everywhere, in your house, sidewalks, on roads… everywhere,” he said.
With more than two decades of experience in the land development and construction supply industry, Wilson is in charge of Martin Marietta’s Northeast Florida and coastal Georgia area, as well as independent areas on the East Coast and in the Caribbean.
“Not many people realize that the larger role we play with JAXPORT is that we support Florida infrastructure,” he said. “Without us here within the port, we would not have the number of roadways we have to drive on for sure.”
Wilson says approximately 30-plus percent of the asphalt roadway in Jacksonville comes from their JAXPORT location, noting that most of the aggregates used to make asphalt come from their granite quarry located in Canada. Martin Marietta has a long track record of supplying FDOT-certified aggregates to support Florida’s roadway infrastructure, including the granite aggregates sourced from JAXPORT. Martin Marietta’s JAXPORT location has proven to be a critical source for stone, as evidenced by the shortage that occurred during COVID. Without the partnership with JAXPORT, several highway projects were almost put completely on hold. However, JAXPORT’s infrastructure allowed for the continued flow of aggregates, vital for the successful completion of several Northeast Florida highway projects.
“JAXPORT is a major contributor to Florida roadways,” he said, noting that the granite aggregates account for half of his company’s business. The other half is limestone aggregate, which is a source to make concrete for homes, warehousing and house slabs, amongst other end uses. Martin Marietta’s limestone supply at JAXPORT comes from The Bahamas.
Also on JAXPORT’s Dames Point terminal, located on the opposite side of the Dames Point Bridge, is JAXPORT tenant Cemex. The global building materials supplier produces, distributes, and sells cement, ready-mix concrete, and aggregates. Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, it is one of the world’s largest cement producers, and it has been a JAXPORT tenant since 2008.
Devon Coppock has spent the last 17 years working at Cemex, most recently as Director of Market Development for the company. While Cemex has been around for about 120 years, the company’s U.S. East Coast Region is anchored in Florida and also imports bulk aggregate.
The company has been approved as an aggregate source for FDOT, which means it can offer building materials for road builders or asphalt and concrete producers.
Coppock said Cemex has had a long-term lease since 2008 when the company was hit by the downturn in the economy. But he said the company really restarted in earnest in 2022, bringing in limestone.
“That’s when we brought in about 100,000 tons of aggregate,” Coppock said. “Last year, we brought in over 500,000 tons of aggregate. We’ve grown quite a bit in just two years.”
Aggregates are a natural resource, but there’s a limited supply of quality limestone available in certain areas of Florida, so Coppock said it’s important to bring aggregates into the state.
Given Florida’s growing population and the current availability of aggregates, this will remain an important focus area to support the state’s future growth.
“That’s important for JAXPORT,” Coppock said. “We’ve been a longtime tenant at JAXPORT, and we look forward to continuing that relationship for a long time.”
JAXPORT terminals offer bulk cargo shippers to seamless access to three U.S. interstates (I-10, I-95 and I-75), 40 daily trains, and near-dock and on-dock rail providers. For more information about JAXPORT’s bulk cargo capabilities, visit JAXPORT.com/Bulk.
