From January to May 2023, Port Houston terminals handled 1,542,392 TEUs, representing a 2% decrease from the previous year’s record-breaking levels.
Import volumes in Houston continue to fall, as witnessed in other markets around the country. Following last May’s record year, the Port handled 139,745 TEUs in loaded imports in the previous month, a 12% year-on-year decrease but still the second-highest May import volumes in Port Houston’s history.
Meanwhile, imports at Port Houston are down 3% for the first five months of 2023, at 781,655 TEUs. Despite the drop in import volume, Port Houston’s loaded exports continue to climb. Loaded export volumes have reached 569,502 TEUs year to date, a 14% rise from the same period last year.
Port Houston’s strong exports are expected to continue, driven by the sustained high demand for resin exports.
Furthermore, export manufacturers and retail importers in the United States now have new ways to enter overseas markets. Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway recently announced expanded intermodal container services at Port Houston.
On 1 June, Union Pacific Railroad launched an on-dock train service to five significant markets: Denver, Salt Lake City, Oakland, Los Angeles, and El Paso. BNSF Railway inaugurated train service to the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth and Denver regions on 2 June.
“The addition of rail service offers an exciting intermodal option to our customers,” stated Roger Guenther, executive director at Port Houston.
