Port Houston Sets New Loaded Exports Record in October, Showcasing Impressive Growth
In a significant achievement, Port Houston reported its highest-ever volume of loaded exports in October, marking a 6% increase compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date export figures reveal a substantial growth of 10%, totaling 1,151,638 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) exported through October 2023.
The majority of these exports comprise resins and chemicals, solidifying Port Houston’s position as the nation’s leading resins port and home to North America’s largest petrochemical cluster.
While loaded import volumes experienced a slight decline in October and a more significant decrease year-to-date, total container imports surged by an impressive 32% compared to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 3,201,958 TEUs for the first ten months of 2023.
Port Houston continues to prioritize operations at the Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals. The recent completion of Wharf 6 at the Bayport Container Terminal, equipped with three state-of-the-art Neo-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, aims to enhance terminal fluidity and meet the growing demands of import and export customers.
Roger Guenther, Executive Director at Port Houston, emphasized the significance of this infrastructure investment, stating, ‘This addition demonstrates our commitment to creating a dependable and efficient terminal environment for our customers.’
Further developments are in the pipeline, with Bayport Wharf 7 scheduled for commissioning in 2025 and the reconstruction of Barbours Cut Wharves 5 and 6 to be completed in the same year. Channel expansions for both Bayport and Barbours Cut are expected to be finalized by 2024 and 2026, respectively, ensuring safe navigation for Neo-Panamax ships in the 14,000 – 15,000 TEU class.
Despite industry challenges, total tonnage through Port Houston has seen a minor decline of 7% year-to-date, amounting to 42,421,735 short tons. While steel volumes decreased by 13% through October, auto import units saw a remarkable 50% increase in October 2023 compared to the same month the previous year.
