Consumer goods clog Jamaica’s profitable ports
Published:Wednesday | February 4, 2026 | 12:11 AM
Jamaica’s two city port operators reported strong financial results despite ongoing cargo congestion at their facilities, with executives attributing delays to consumer behaviour rather than commercial shipments.
Uncollected personal items in bonded warehouses are creating backlogs, though commercial operations continue at normal pace, executives said.
“Our terminal – full container loads, lumber, steel, motor vehicles – those operations maintain their regular turnover time,” said Simone Murdoch, corporate services and client experience manager at Kingston Wharves, in response to Financial Gleaner queries. “The congestion that we’re having is in the warehouse operation.”
Mark Hart, executive chairman of Cargo Handlers, said importers concentrate shipments around two seasons – summer and Christmas – but fail to collect goods promptly or use contactless clearance facilities.
“The core issue is that everyone wants to have their cargo around two seasons ... and they don’t come for their goods promptly,” Hart said.
Kingston Wharves Ltd posted consolidated revenue of $9.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up 20 per cent from the year-earlier period. Net profit attributable to shareholders rose 20 per cent to $2.5 billion, according to filings with the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Cargo Handlers Ltd, based in Montego Bay, reported revenue of $481.3 million for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, a 1.6 per cent increase. Net profit jumped 18 per cent to $323.9 million.
Both companies endorsed a call from the Shipping Association of Jamaica for importers to clear goods more quickly. Shipping Association President Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester said government agencies and maritime institutions are working together to resolve the issue.
Kingston Wharves operates a 1.7-kilometre continuous quay with nine deepwater berths at Jamaica’s main port. Kingston Wharves acquired a 27 per cent stake in Cargo Handlers in July 2024, making it the second-largest shareholder. Cargo Handlers has operated at the Port of Montego Bay since 1981 and has been publicly traded since 2010.