Port Houston Container Volumes Rise 11% on Strong Imports

Port Houston handled 376,419 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, 11% more than the 337,659 TEUs a year earlier. Stronger imports and better exports through its Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals drove the rise, according to figures presented at the Oct. 21 Port Commission meeting.

Loaded imports climbed 16% to 174,189 TEUs. Loaded exports rose 2% to 132,009 TEUs. Empty container exports jumped 31% to 55,963 TEUs.

For the first nine months of 2026 the port handled 3.35 million TEUs, up 2% from 3.27 million. "We had a pretty rough start to the year," CEO Charlie Jenkins told commissioners.

Imports outpace the country

Chief commercial officer John Mosley said import demand was unusually strong in the third quarter. "This year has been unusually high with Port Houston outpacing the rest of the country," he said. Loaded imports are up 6% year to date, to 1.56 million TEUs, against a much weaker national market.

Chief operations officer Ryan Mariacher said exports began accelerating toward the end of September. The second half of September and the first half of October brought a long-anticipated surge. Carriers and shippers expect it to continue.

Port staff are meeting major ocean carriers about capacity and new services. Chief operating officer Eric Casey said a new container and refrigerated cargo service started in September, and more are under negotiation.

Ships, steel and the channel

Vessel movements at public terminals reached 750 in September, up 10% from 681. Barge movements rose 23% to 181. Revenue tonnage grew 15% to 4.88 million tons.

Steel imports totalled 539,993 tons, up 181% from 192,351 tons a year earlier. Combined steel imports and exports passed 581,000 tons, the strongest month since May 2022. It was the first pair of consecutive months above 500,000 tons of steel in more than a decade.

Port-led work on Project 11 is complete. It widened a stretch of the Houston Ship Channel through Galveston Bay from 530 feet to 700 feet, which eases daylight navigation limits for larger ships. Jenkins said planning for Project 12, the next channel expansion, is advancing.

Source: FreightWaves