TX: Port Houston Posts Unprecedented February Volumes; Container TEUs up 20%

February proved to be a remarkable month at Port Houston’s terminals. Container volumes increased 20% compared to the same month last year, totaling 375,965 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). In the first two months of 2024, container volumes at Port Houston totaled 708,926 TEUs, an increase of 12% year-to-date.

Loaded export volumes continue to be a dominating force among Port Houston’s container terminals, with an increase of 25% in February compared to the same month last year. Totaling 145,766 TEUs, February 2024 now holds the distinction of being the biggest month for container exports on record for Port Houston. Additionally, loaded imports increased by 18% this month compared to February 2023. Port officials note that this strong start to the year, along with an optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, are supported by key investments in infrastructure growth in Houston.

Port Houston has made significant progress on its Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11. Curtin Maritime Corp. recently completed dredging three and a half miles of the Houston Ship Channel and as a result of related lifted daylight restrictions roughly 30 minutes of additional vessel transit time will be available. Moreover, Callan Marine Ltd. has been awarded the last Port Houston-led Project 11 dredge contract, which covers the portion of the channel from Bayport Container Terminal to Barbours Cut Container Terminal. The cutter-section dredge that Callan Marine Ltd. will utilize for this segment of Project 11 is the cleanest of its type in America.

“Throughout the project to expand the Channel we have worked at an unprecedented rate to deliver the benefits to our customers and our region,” said Roger Guenther, Executive Director at Port Houston. “Before the end of this year, our Bayport Container Terminal will be able to receive vessels of up to 15,000 TEUs in size.”

Landside infrastructure at Port Houston’s container terminals also continues to grow. The Paleisgracht general cargo vessel recently arrived at Barbours Cut with seven new hybrid-electric rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes, one of several deliveries of RTGs that will make their way to Port Houston terminals this year. New ship-to-shore (STS) cranes are expected to arrive at Bayport this summer as well.

Regarding Port Houston's multipurpose facilities, steel import volumes increased by 6% in February compared to the same month last year. Total tonnage across all of Port Houston’s terminals increased by 18% in February, totaling 4,782,172 tons, and is up 5% for the year.