Foreign-Trade Zone
Hawaii Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 is a state-operated international trade facility at Pier 2, Honolulu, providing 133,000 square feet of warehouse space, 74 offices, and trade facilitation services to importers, exporters, customs brokers, and trade consultants under U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board authorization.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Foreign-Trade Zone does
Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 (FTZ9) is a state government entity and division of Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), operating under a federal grant of authority from the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board since 1966. It runs a 133,000 square foot public warehouse and 74 offices/conference rooms at Pier 2, Honolulu, providing duty-deferral, tariff-avoidance, and General Excise Tax-offset warehousing and office-leasing services to importers, exporters, customs brokers, trade consultants, and maritime professionals. The facility also hosts co-located federal trade programs (U.S. Commercial Service, Ex-Im Bank City-State Partner Program, Hawaii Pacific Export Council, WUSATA) and an Alternative Site Framework enabling FTZ status at tenant-owned facilities. In 2024, FTZ9 reported $10.6 billion in merchandise throughput from 24 countries, supporting 4,047 jobs across 289 firms, and it ranked #1 nationally among 193 active FTZs for businesses served.
FTZ9's revenue model is a hybrid of recurring and usage-based streams: (1) state appropriations from the foreign trade zone special fund ($2.14 million reported in 2016); (2) recurring cube-based warehouse storage leasing at Pier 2; (3) recurring office and conference room leasing including the Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center (40+ offices); and (4) usage-based on-demand warehousing, forklift, and labor services. Distribution is entirely direct — businesses contact warehouse operations, the business office, or the Zone Administrator, with services also extended remotely via the Alternative Site Framework. Marketing is conducted through the Trade News Weekly newsletter, YouTube/Facebook/Twitter organic social channels, an informational video library, ~30 customer testimonials, and SBA/Hawaii Pacific Export Council export seminars and events. Notable infrastructure projects include a 300-kW solar PV system (largest in downtown Honolulu), a micro-grid partnership with R.P. Delio and Company for battery storage and planned hydrogen forklift fueling, and the first-in-the-nation FTZ authorization for Par Hawaii to produce renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and naphtha under FTZ procedures.
Foreign-Trade Zone firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foreign-Trade Zone
- Legal name
- Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9
- Website
- https://ftz9.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hawaii Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 is a state-operated international trade facility at Pier 2, Honolulu, providing 133,000 square feet of warehouse space, 74 offices, and trade facilitation services to importers, exporters, customs brokers, and trade consultants under U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board authorization.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foreign-Trade Zone industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foreign-Trade Zone Operations and Trade Facilitation Services
- NAICS
- General Warehousing and Storage (493110), Other Warehousing and Storage (493190)
- SIC
- Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) & Freeport Warehousing (TLALAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bonded Warehouses (Customs-Bonded Storage Facilities) (TLALAGAA), Customs Bonded Distribution Centers (In-Bond DCs) (TLALAGAC), In-Bond Container Freight Stations (CFS) & Deconsolidation (TLALAGAD)
Keywords
Where Foreign-Trade Zone is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Foreign-Trade Zone business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Warehouse Storage Leasing: FTZ9 generates revenue by leasing warehouse storage space at its 133,000 square foot Pier 2 facility in Honolulu. Businesses pay for storage of foreign merchandise, with pricing based on cube/volume. This is a recurring revenue stream from importers/exporters.
- Office and Conference Room Leasing: FTZ9 leases 74 offices and conference rooms to international trade-related businesses including importers, exporters, customs brokers, trade consultants, and maritime professionals. The Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center added 40+ additional office spaces.
- Government Appropriations: According to DBEDT's 2016 Annual Report, the Foreign Trade-Zone division received adjusted appropriations of $2.14 million from the foreign trade zone special fund.
- On-Demand Warehousing Services: Flexible warehousing services including on-demand storage and forklift services for businesses that need temporary or scalable storage without committing to permanent warehouse rental.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Warehouse storage - charged by the cube |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Foreign-Trade Zone product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 (FTZ9) operates a 133,000 square foot public warehouse at Pier 2, Honolulu, along with 74 offices and conference rooms, providing duty-deferred and tariff-avoided storage, handling, and distribution services for imported and exported merchandise. The facility also leases office and conference space to importers, exporters, customs brokers, trade consultants, and maritime professionals, and operates the Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center and an Alternative Site Framework (ASF) program enabling FTZ status at remote business locations.
Product overview
Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 (FTZ9) is a government-operated physical trade facilitation facility under Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Rather than a software platform, it operates as a physical infrastructure hub offering a 133,000 square foot warehouse at Pier 2 and 74 offices/conference rooms for businesses engaged in international trade. The portfolio includes the core General Purpose FTZ Warehouse for duty deferral and merchandise storage, the Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center for office/workspace needs, and the FTZ at Your Business program enabling off-site FTZ operations. Supporting offerings include the Trade News Weekly newsletter compiled from Panjiva trade data, an educational video library covering import/export topics, and access to on-site trade support services including customs brokers and freight forwarders. The organization also provides financing assistance through partnerships with Ex-Im Bank programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center: Named office wing and conference center dedicated to former FTZ9 Administrator Homer Maxey, housing 40+ office spaces for Hawaii importers and exporters.
Products and services
- General Purpose FTZ Warehouse (Pier 2)
Quantifiable outcome
- $10.6 Billion in merchandise handled in 2024 from 24 countries
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Foreign-Trade Zone
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Foreign-Trade Zone technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Foreign-Trade Zone partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Par HawaiiflagshipPar Hawaii is the first refinery in the nation authorized to use renewable feedstock to produce renewable fuels (renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, naphtha) under FTZ procedures. Represents a historic first for FTZ9's renewable energy initiatives.
- Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)coreDBEDT is the state agency that holds the corporate grant of authority to establish and manage Foreign-Trade Zones in Hawaii. FTZ9 is a division of DBEDT, which provides oversight, funding (reported $2.14M appropriations in 2016), and strategic direction.
- Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank)coreFTZ9 is part of Ex-Im Bank's City-State Partner Program, assisting small businesses with understanding export financing products. Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees, export credit insurance, and loan guarantees to help U.S. companies export.
- Hawaii Pacific Export CouncilcoreNon-profit organization that hosts export workshops and seminars at FTZ9. Over 5 years, helped hundreds of Hawaii companies expand international sales and facilitated over $1 billion in new export sales.
- U.S. Commercial ServicecoreFederal trade promotion program office located at FTZ9 to assist businesses with importing and exporting. Part of U.S. Department of Commerce.
- U.S. Customs and Border ProtectioncoreFederal agency that provides oversight and supervision of FTZ operations. Merchandise in FTZ status is under CBP supervision, enabling duty deferral and tariff benefits.
- Kiewit ConstructionminorConstruction contractor for the $10.5 million International Trade Resource Center expansion project at Pier 2, adding 30,000 square feet of office and conference space.
- Bowers & Kubota ConsultingminorConstruction management firm overseeing the International Trade Resource Center expansion project at FTZ9's Pier 2 facility.
- WUSATA (Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association)minorUSDA-funded program (Market Access Program) that provides grants for small Western U.S. food and agricultural companies to attend international trade shows.
- Brazil Hawaii Business ConnectionminorBusiness networking group formed by Alex Souza and Daniel Skaf to connect Hawaii companies with Brazilian import/export opportunities.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Foreign-Trade Zone competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Foreign-Trade Zone No. 1 (New York): FTZ #1 is operated under the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and is the oldest Foreign-Trade Zone in the U.S. Directly comparable to FTZ9 as a federal-grantee FTZ operator providing bonded warehousing, customs oversight, and trade facilitation to importers and exporters in its region.
- Foreign-Trade Zone No. 50 (Long Beach): FTZ #50 is sponsored by the Port of Long Beach and provides bonded warehousing and FTZ services to importers/exporters in Southern California. Operates the same FTZ Board-authorized public warehouse and ASF model as FTZ9, with comparable trade facilitation services.
Others
- National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ): The industry trade association representing all U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones, of which FTZ9 is a member. Provides advocacy, training, and conference programming for FTZ operators and users; comparable because it defines the institutional ecosystem FTZ9 operates within.
Emerging players
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide: A major North American 3PL and freight broker with customs brokerage and bonded warehousing capabilities. Comparable to FTZ9 in enabling importers/exporters to manage cross-border flows and storage, though operating as a private commercial entity rather than a public FTZ.
Broad incumbents
- Kuehne+Nagel International AG: A leading global 3PL offering customs brokerage, bonded warehousing, and FTZ-related services at scale. Comparable to FTZ9's customs broker co-location and bonded storage offerings, but operates as a multi-region private commercial competitor.
- DHL Global Forwarding (Deutsche Post DHL): Major global freight forwarder and contract logistics operator providing customs clearance, bonded storage, and FTZ-related services. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering the same category of customs and bonded warehousing services that FTZ9 provides in Hawaii.
- Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (FTZ Grantee): A state-level port authority that holds the federal grantee authority for FTZ #1 and operates adjacent port infrastructure. Comparable to FTZ9 as a state/public authority managing an FTZ within port facilities, with similar mandate to enable trade through bonded zones.
- Expeditors International of Washington: Global logistics provider with customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and bonded warehousing capabilities. Comparable to FTZ9 in serving import/export customer needs and providing customs-compliant storage, but at much larger global scale and with private-market economics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Foreign-Trade Zone social profiles
Digital presenceForeign-Trade Zone financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foreign-Trade Zone leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Foreign-Trade Zone funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Foreign-Trade Zone M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foreign-Trade Zone
What does Foreign-Trade Zone do?
Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 (FTZ9) operates a 133,000 square foot public warehouse at Pier 2, Honolulu, along with 74 offices and conference rooms, providing duty-deferred and tariff-avoided storage, handling, and distribution services for imported and exported merchandise. The facility also leases office and conference space to importers, exporters, customs brokers, trade consultants, and maritime professionals, and operates the Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center and an Alternative Site Framework (ASF) program enabling FTZ status at remote business locations.
Is Foreign-Trade Zone a public or private company?
Foreign-Trade Zone is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Foreign-Trade Zone founded?
Foreign-Trade Zone was founded in 1966. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Foreign-Trade Zone based?
Foreign-Trade Zone is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Foreign-Trade Zone make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Warehouse Storage Leasing is the primary driver. The others are office and Conference Room Leasing, government Appropriations and on-Demand Warehousing Services.
Who are Foreign-Trade Zone's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Foreign-Trade Zone No. 1 (New York) and Foreign-Trade Zone No. 50 (Long Beach). National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) is listed as an others. C.H. Robinson Worldwide is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Kuehne+Nagel International AG, DHL Global Forwarding (Deutsche Post DHL), Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (FTZ Grantee) and Expeditors International of Washington.
Does Foreign-Trade Zone have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foreign-Trade Zone.
What industry is Foreign-Trade Zone in?
Foreign-Trade Zone's product category is Foreign-Trade Zone Operations and Trade Facilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLALAGAB, Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) & Freeport Warehousing, with a secondary code of TLALAGAA, Bonded Warehouses (Customs-Bonded Storage Facilities). Its NAICS code is 493110 and its SIC code is 4220.