Port Houston has been impacted by fog, with total tonnage at the US port terminals down in the first two months of the year. Port Houston handled 325,424 TEUs in February, translating to a 13% decline year-over-year.
In particular, loaded imports fell 14%, and loaded exports declined 16% in the second month of the year compared with the same month in 2024.
Port Houston said general cargo is up 9% year-to-date, showing strong lumber and plywood volumes and steel imports declined 13% year-over-year in February, though year-to-date volumes remain 1% higher than the same period last year.
Containerized cargo was especially impacted by the fog, which restricts visibility and, therefore, the navigation of vessels along the Houston Ship Channel, according to the statement. In fact, fog and other weather delays contributed to a 29% reduction in the availability of the channel, a sharp contrast to just 2.5% last year during the same time.
“Weather challenges can be great disruptors for maritime operations, and in February, we were hit hard,” noted Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. “Our investment in infrastructure at the public terminals and improvements to the Houston Ship Channel remain on track, and we are already seeing a cargo rebound in March.”
In recent developments on the Houston Ship Channel Expansion, known as Project 11, the Houston Pilots have adjusted the daylight restriction reference point from Redfish to Bayport Ship Channel segments, increasing the sailing window for daylight-restricted vessels by 30 minutes. Since the start of Project 11, overall sailing time has expanded by nearly two hours, strengthening the flow of commerce through the US port.
