In August, the container throughput of Houston Port increased by 20%

The Port of Houston reported a 20% increase in TEUs in August, reaching 367653 20 foot equivalent 

units (TEUs) that month. In the first eight months of this year, the total container throughput reached 

2791127 TEUs, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2023. At this rate, Houston Port is 

expected to reach a new historical high.

These numbers reflect the Houston Port team's firm commitment to operational excellence, "said 

Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Houston Port. We are making strategic investments in our facilities and will 

continue to adapt and innovate to meet market demand

Houston Port recently added three Ship to Shore (STS) electric cranes at its Bayport container terminal, 

bringing the total number of STS cranes at the terminal to 18. These cranes have been delivered to 

Terminal 6 and Terminal 2, increasing the capacity of the facilities to achieve expected growth and 

helping to further improve vessel productivity, providing support for ocean carrier customers.

Compared to August 2023, driven by a strong retail market and healthy consumer spending, 

the loading of imported standard containers at the Port of Houston container terminal increased by 

9% in August. So far this year, the import volume has increased by 9%. In terms of exports, 

the number of containers loaded in August increased by 19%, and for the whole year it increased by 

13%, with resin continuing to drive the growth of these export volumes. Houston Port remains 

the largest gateway for resin exports in the United States, accounting for 60% of the market share. 

Overall, the container load so far this year has increased by 10% compared to last year.

The steel import volume of the Houston Port multipurpose facility in August increased by 15% 

compared to the same period last year, although the import volume has decreased by 10% so far 

this year. This month, plywood, self-propelled machinery, and wind power equipment have seen 

significant growth. The total tonnage of all facilities is still increasing, with a 5% increase so far 

this year compared to 2023, totaling 35433600 tons.

Entering the last quarter of this year, the Panama Canal continues to increase daily vessel transit times 

to facilitate navigation into the bay. The Houston Waterway Expansion Project 11 also continues to 

make progress, further improving the efficiency and safety of the busiest waterway in the country. 

With the improvements of Project 11, 15000 TEU vessels will be able to dock at the Port of 

Houston's Port of Newport Container Terminal later this year.

We eagerly look forward to seeing these larger vessels at our docks, even though Project 11 is 

not just about providing value for public facilities in Houston Harbor, "Jenkins said. Project 11 will 

benefit all users of the Houston Ship Channel and help our region continue to be a major international 

gateway with safe and efficient waterways