TX: Port Houston Reports Container Volumes Up 20% in August; On Track for Record Year

Port Houston continues its remarkable year with 20% TEU growth in August, reaching 367,653 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the month. Over the first eight months of the year, total container volumes reached 2,791,127 TEUs, an 11% increase over the same period in 2023. With this pace, Port Houston is on track for another record year.

“These volumes reflect the Port Houston team’s unwavering commitment to operational excellence,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. “We are strategically investing in our facilities and will continue to adapt and innovate in response to market demands.”

Port Houston recently added three new ship-to-shore (STS) electric cranes at its Bayport Container Terminal, bringing the total there to 18 STS cranes. These cranes have been delivered to Wharves 6 and 2, adding capacity to the facility for expected growth and helping further improve vessel productivity to support ocean carrier customers.

Loaded import TEUs at Port Houston’s container terminals increased 9% in August compared to August 2023, driven by a robust retail market and healthy consumer spending. Year-to-date, loaded imports are up 9%. On the export side, loaded containers are up 19% in August and 13% for the year, with resins continuing to drive these volumes. Port Houston remains the top U.S. gateway for resin exports, holding a 60% market share. In total, loaded container volumes have increased by 10% so far this year compared to last.

At Port Houston’s multipurpose facilities steel imports were up 15% in August compared to last year, although year-to-date volumes are down 10%. Plywood, self-propelled machinery, and wind power equipment increased notably this month. Total tonnage across all facilities remains on the rise, up 5% year-to-date compared to 2023 and totaling 35,433,600 tons.

As we look to the last quarter of the year, the Panama Canal continues to increase daily vessel transit slots, easing navigation into the Gulf. The Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11 also continues to make progress, further increasing efficiency as well as safety along the nation’s busiest waterway. With the Project 11 improvements, 15,000-TEU vessels will be able to call Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal later this year.

Port Houston is the local advocate of the Houston Ship Channel and is working in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver the many benefits of Project 11 to the more than 200 facilities that rely on this waterway to move cargo. “We are eagerly anticipating seeing these larger vessels at our terminals, though Project 11 is not just about delivering value at Port Houston’s public facilities,” said Jenkins. “Project 11 benefits all users of the Houston Ship Channel and will help our region continue to be a primary international gateway with a safe and efficient waterway.”