Port Houston has seen a considerable rise in loaded exports via its Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals.
Port Houston’s loaded exports handled in September were reportedly the most in the port’s history for a September.
The port handled 124,739 loaded export TEU last month, representing a 21 per cent increase compared to September 2022.
The trend of increasing export volumes is expected to continue as the demand for resins remains high. Port Houston exports various types of resins, such as PE, PVC, and PP.
Port Houston is by far the top export port of resins in the nation and has a 59 per cent share of the resin export market in the US. According to Port Houston, primary export destinations are China, Brazil, and Belgium.
READ: Port Houston reaches over 2 million TEU year-to-date
Roger Guenther, Executive Director at Port Houston, said: “Houston is the plastic packaging capital of the US and Port Houston is committed to expeditiously getting those export cargoes through our facilities and on their way to their global destination.”
Loaded import volumes at Port Houston were 156,161 TEU in September, a 12 per cent decrease from the previous September and an 8 per cent decrease year-to-date (YTD).
Through September, overall container volumes at Port Houston were down only 4 per cent, totalling 2.8 million TEU.
General cargo at Port Houston’s breakbulk facilities has decreased by 22 per cent YTD, while steel imports have decreased by 15 per cent. In September, total throughput via Port Houston terminals was down 7 per cent to 37.9 million short tonnes.
READ: Port Houston handles 1.8 million TEU in Q1/Q2 2023
However, auto import units remain robust, up 65 per cent YTD compared to the same period in 2022.
“Like many ports across the country, Port Houston has seen an expected decline in container import volumes compared to the remarkable numbers seen in 2022,” added Guenther.
“Despite the ebbs and flows of the global economy, we remain committed to investing in our terminal infrastructure to meet growing demand, aligning with our partners so we are prepared for the future of the supply chain. Port Houston is in a great position and we are in this for the long game to serve our valued customers.”
