Container volumes at Port Houston have continued to surpass last year’s levels, with 1.39 million TEU handled from the beginning of the year through April.
This marks a year-to-date (YTD) increase of 12 per cent.
According to the port, 324,177 TEU passed through in April, a 5 per cent rise from April 2023’s numbers.
A closer look at container traffic reveals high volumes for both loaded imports and loaded exports, as both directions continue to rise.
Loaded imports are up 4 per cent for the month and 12 per cent YTD through April, reaching 632,886 TEU, due to a recent spike in new import distribution centres built in the region.
Loaded exports handled in April were up 8 per cent from 2023, while YTD volumes increased 14 per cent to 523,426 TEU.
Port Houston attributes the increase in exports to the demand for regionally manufactured automobiles, furniture, cotton, and plastic resin items.
Steel volumes decreased by 32 per cent in April compared to the same month last year, while other commodities, such as fertiliser, molasses, and tallow, have shown gains.
Total tonnage at the port increased by 4 per cent to 17.5 million tonnes YTD.
Roger Guenther, Executive Director of Port Houston, said: “Our Express Pass system is designed to enhance efficiency at our container terminals. It improves customer truck turn times by providing our team with greater visibility and predictability, which helps us work smarter.
“By using this system, our customers are helping us help them reduce their time spent at our terminals. With 10,000 truck visits on average each day every minute, every second, matters.”
From January to March, Port Houston handled 1 million TEU YTD, a 15 per cent increase over the same time the previous year.