Port Houston Sets Record Growth, Secures Nearly $3M in Federal Funding
Published October 31, 2024 by Hailea Schultz
Port Houston is experiencing a remarkable surge in activity, setting new records in container volume, welcoming its largest ship to date and securing substantial funding for its innovative program aimed at reducing emissions.
Port Houston hit an early-year milestone in September moving more than three million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a record pace reflecting increased demand and surpassing 2023 levels by 10 percent.
“At Port Houston we are moving more containers than ever before, having reached the three million TEU mark already this year,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston, in a statement. “This milestone reflects strong customer demand and our commitment to delivering a low cost and low risk proposition to our customers that is anchored in service excellence. I am proud to be a member of the Port Houston team during these exciting times and am committed to continuing our investments in people and infrastructure to stay ahead of the demand.”
Other metrics indicating growth at the port include a 25 percent increase in steel imports for September alone and total tonnage of 39,444,673 year-to-date, marking a four percent increase compared to last year.
Port Houston reached another significant milestone last month with the arrival of the 1,188-foot-long CMA CGM CASSIOPEIA, the largest ship ever to dock at Bayport Container Terminal. This vessel arrived with 11,356 TEUs, moving over 7,000 containers during its stay. The port expects to accommodate 15,000 TEU neo-Panamax vessels regularly at Bayport by November.
Complementing its operational milestones, Port Houston has also received nearly $3 million in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. This funding will bolster the port’s PORT SHIFT program (Ports Optimizing Resilient Transportation through Sustainable, Human, Innovative, and Forward-looking Technology), to incorporate zero-emissions technology across Port Houston’s ecosystem, enhancing both environmental performance and community health.
“PORT SHIFT is about more than moving cargo—it’s about building a port that’s prepared for the future and a community that’s healthier and stronger,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), in a statement. “With investments in zero-emission trucks, cleaner cargo handling, workforce training, and community engagement, Port Houston is setting the standard for what ports across America can accomplish.”