Value of merchandise moving through Port of Tacoma's Foreign Trade Zone triples

The total dollar volume of cargo moved through the Port of Tacoma's Foreign Trade Zone #86 has tripled. For the U.S. federal government fiscal year 2010 (October 2009 through September 2010), the total dollar value of domestic and foreign status merchandise moved through the Zone totaled more than $1.3 billion, up from approximately $440 million for the fiscal year 2009.

A foreign trade zone (FTZ) is a specially designed area located within the U.S. but considered legally outside the U.S. Customs territory. FTZ users are allowed to store, manipulate or add value to goods prior to import or re-export to a foreign country, and can defer, reduce or eliminate payment of U.S. Customs duties.

Mazda and Kia were two major users of Tacoma's FTZ during the 2010 fiscal year, using the zone to process imported autos. Puget Sound International (PSI) and Norvanco International also had activated FTZ facilities for the entire fiscal year.

PSI provided FTZ services to companies involved in the storage of imported machinery, footwear, furniture and religious items. Norvanco provided FTZ services to companies involved in the storage of tableware, footwear and fabric totes.

In addition, the Tacoma FTZ sponsored the subzone for Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company's Anacortes Oil Refinery, for which the total value of domestic and foreign status merchandise that moved through the Zone totaled approximately an additional $1.35 billion.

In terms of total dollar value of foreign status merchandise being admitted into a Zone, Tacoma's FTZ ranks third among the 35 West Coast FTZs (behind Long Beach and San Diego) and 18th out of the 272 FTZs in the U.S.

FTZ #86 includes 19 parcels of land that cover more than 2,250 acres of both Port land and privately-owned land. FTZ #86 was first established in 1983 and has been expanded three times over the years.

Recently, the Port applied to have Foreign Trade Zone #86 reorganized under the U.S. Department of Commerce's new Alternative Site Framework (ASF) program.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.