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Index— keeps dwell times low and cargo moving efficiently.
I am hopeful that the same maritime industry that over time has navigated geopolitical shifts, economic headwinds and natural disturbances will continue to find ways to adapt and keep goods moving efficiently.
Port Freeport
Phyllis Saathoff
Executive Director and CEO www. portfreeport. com
As Port Freeport enters 2026, we build on the momentum from our centennial year, committed to operational excellence, modernizing our infrastructure and achieving sustainable growth across the Texas Gulf Coast. As one of the nation’ s fastest-growing ports, our location— which features the shortest deep-water channel on the Gulf Coast— reinforces our responsibility to address the challenges posed by an increasingly complex global supply chain.
Effectively managing growth, accommodating larger vessels and handling rising trade volumes will require infrastructure advancements that enhance capacity and improve supply chain efficiency. Over the past decade, our capital investments— such as Berth 8, the Parcel 14 Rail Development, Gate 12, Area 5 and the Velasco Terminal Access Project— have
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expanded multimodal access and reduced congestion. Additionally, our newly commissioned super post- Panamax ship-to-shore cranes have substantially improved our container handling capabilities. The Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project remains a top priority as we deepen and widen the channel to accommodate larger vessels and enhance navigational safety, with final completion expected in Q2 2026.
As we move forward into our second century of service, our strategic investments strengthen our role as a reliable partner and a cost-effective, resilient gateway for global commerce. Port Freeport’ s forward-looking mindset and operational capacity position us to deliver significant value to the maritime industry, support economic growth in our region and state, and create opportunities for the next generation of partners, carriers and customers.
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Port Houston
Charlie Jenkins
Executive Director www. porthouston. com
In our industry, the word of the year in 2025 seemed to be“ uncertainty.” For 2026, I’ m going to say the word of the year should be“ collaboration.” That’ s what it will take for the maritime sector to thrive in the face of any downturn.
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Periods of uncertainty underscore the value of communication, coordination and cooperation. That’ s as true for ports as for any other part of the maritime industry. The most successful ports are those that work together with their partners to adapt dynamically to the ebbs and flows of the market, sharing data and maintaining open lines of communication. Whether cargo slows or surges, focus must remain on providing excellent customer service, and that requires agility and a firm understanding of customer forecasts and expectations.
While container volumes in many regions of the US are stagnating, Houston continues to show stability and resilience. Historically, our region has been among the last to feel the impacts of broader economic cycles, and that remains true today. While we can’ t know what 2026 will bring, we are still planning for long-term infrastructure projects, such as an additional container terminal in Houston. We know that Houston will weather any short-term fluctuations and therefore must continue to plan for growth in the mid- and long-term to meet the needs of our customers and our region.
Tariff policies will always influence the flow of trade, but continued collaboration with stakeholders will help ensure industry durability. And I’ m confident the market will soon balance out in a way that both reduces barriers to trade and strengthens US competitiveness. In the meantime, let’ s focus on collaborating in ways that help our industry remain resilient and weather any storms that may come our way.
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“ Effectively managing growth, accommodating larger vessels and handling rising trade volumes will require infrastructure advancements.”
Phyllis Saathoff
“ Tariff policies will always influence the flow of trade, but continued collaboration with stakeholders will help ensure industry durability.”
Charlie Jenkins
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