Houston Sees Surge in Container Volumes

In May, Port Houston managed 364,866 TEUs, marking an impressive 21% increase, equivalent to over 64,000 TEUs, compared to the same month last year.

From January through May, a total of 1,758,960 TEUs passed through the US port’s two container terminals, reflecting a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Despite ongoing global supply chain disruptions, Port Houston’s cargo volumes continue to exhibit robust growth. Significant construction of new warehouses and distribution centers over the past two years, coupled with strong regional consumer spending on items like furniture, hardware, and retail goods, have driven loaded import volumes up by 18% this month compared to last year.

“We extend a Texas-sized welcome to the MV/OOCL Bremerhaven and look forward to providing this new vessel with exceptional customer service. At Port Houston’s container terminals, vessels are worked around the clock and are turned quickly in partnership with our stevedores and ILA labor. We understand the importance of getting ships in, out, and on their way to their next destination as swiftly and efficiently as possible,” stated Roger Guenther, executive director at Port Houston.

Additionally, robust manufacturing activity in Texas has propelled loaded exports, which increased by 21% this month to a total of 131,690 TEUs, and by 15% year-to-date through May, reaching 655,116 TEUs.

In May, Port Houston celebrated the maiden voyage of the OOCL Bremerhaven at Bayport Container Terminal. This vessel is part of the ATG1/Victory Bridge service operated by the Ocean Alliance, offering ultra-short transit times of four days from MXVER (Veracruz) and two days from MXATM (Altamira) to Houston.

According to a statement, Port Houston’s leadership continues to prioritize making Houston the gateway of choice for its customers. By the end of 2024, 15,000 TEU class neo-Panamax vessels will be able to berth at Bayport as the Port continues to make progress on its Houston Ship Channel Expansion, widely known as Project 11.

“We are well-prepared to handle larger ships and increased volumes and ensure we always have a buffer for surges. Our goal is to continue to improve how we do business to capture increased cargo into the Houston region,” noted Guenther.

Beyond Houston, the service provides express direct connections to Le Havre, Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Bremerhaven before returning to Mexico.

Steel imports at Port Houston’s multipurpose facilities saw a substantial increase in May, rising by 48% compared to the same month last year, reaching a total of 436,027 short tons. This marks the highest monthly import volume for steel at Port Houston since June 2023. Overall tonnage across all facilities has grown by 6% compared to last year, reaching 22,394,696 tons year-to-date.