Following the introduction of new container shipping services at Florida’s Port Everglades, the port had a record-setting month in December 2016.

With 104,590 TEUs moved through Port Everglades, this was the highest producing month in the port’s nearly 90-year history and a 15 percent rise over December 2015, according to the port.

Much of the increase can be attributed to a resurgence in the Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic markets. These market increases can also be partially attributed to the change in vessel sharing agreements between Crowley Liner Service and Seaboard Marine, the port revealed.

“Port Everglades helped spearhead a pilot program to bring refrigerated produce from South America directly to Florida, when it was previously restricted to only coming into northern US ports. The pilot program was a great success and now we are seeing a wider variety of produce coming to South Florida faster and fresher than when it was trucked here from the Northeast,” Jim Pyburn, Port Everglades Director of Business Development, stated.

Port Everglades further said that several new services are also contributing to its TEU increase.

Germany-based shipping line Hapag-Lloyd began in July 2016 a direct call to Port Everglades from Valencia, Spain, on its Mediterranean Gulf Express (MGX) service. The service is said to be responsible for adding approximately 300 to 400 TEUs weekly at Port Everglades.

Additionally, SeaLand’s and APL’s North American Express Service (NAE/ACX) to Latin America, which started in late 2015, has been increasing its volumes in the first full year at Port Everglades.

Port Everglades handles more than one million TEUs annually and serves as a gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.