Port Houston set a record in cargo handling with a total of 334,493 TEU for the month of April.
The port recorded a 21% increase compared to the volume of containers in the same month in 2021.
In addition, in one year, the volume of containers at Port Houston exceeded 1 million in April, reaching 1,237,876 TEU.
“April was another record month for containers at Port Houston,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said. “Month after month we’ve seen numbers that are unprecedented at our facilities”.
The main reason for the continuing increase in the volume of containers is imports. Port Houston shipments of imported TEU hit record highs at 162,965 TEU in April, the highest monthly volume of imports ever shipped to Port Houston container terminals as a growing number of importers redesign network strategies that favor Houston as a national hub.
Exports of container shipments for the same month via Houston increased by 25% to 114,860 TEU, recording an annual increase of 4%.
The volume of outbound empty containers increased by 6% compared to the same month last year, to 43,155 TEU in April 2022.
Within a year, the volume of outbound empty containers increased by 80% with a total of 215,306 TEU.
“As a marine terminal operator, our team is responding to the surge with an accelerated infrastructure development program on all fronts. We’re expanding the Houston Ship Channel to handle bigger ships, we’re constructing wharves, adding container yard space, installing new equipment and training our future workforce. It’s busy at Port Houston, as our team members continue to focus on safety, customer service and moving cargo efficiently,” Guenther added.
With container growth expected to continue this year, Port Houston is making changes now to increase capacity and offer additional flexibility to its users.
“We’ve already implemented some changes, like increasing our gate hours and adding Saturday gates. We are re-evaluating the timing of many of our investments, working to get additional container space on-line sooner than originally planned,” Guenther said.
