FedEx Express on Tuesday announced that it has completed the $ 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 the Caribbean. access to more capacity and capabilities.

The project adds more than 138,000 square feet to the main sorting facility, bringing it to a total of over 282,000 square feet. The upgrades include a new customs clearance area and a new 70,000 square foot cold storage facility, the largest in the global FedEx (NYSE: FDX) network.

The expansion of the customs clearance area will speed up international operations. The refrigeration area consists of several rooms with temperatures ranging from minus 13 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit which can meet the growing demand for perishable goods such as flowers and food, as well as pharmaceutical and therapeutic products.

Miami is a major gateway for Latin American cut flowers, fruits and seafood.

“The expansion of our Miami hub positions us better to meet growing customer demand and efficiently move increased e-commerce volume through our extensive network,” said Richard Smith, regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of worldwide support, in a press release. .

FedEx said that from 2019 to 2020, the volume of shipments through Miami increased by 31%.

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