SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

HOUSTON TRADE AND LOGISTICS

By Lori Musser

While global transportation and logistics continue to bubble and churn with geopolitical unrest, Houston’ s logistics sector has shown remarkable growth and resilience.

“ Houston enters this period from a position of strength,” said Steve Kean, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, in the recently released 2025 Global Houston Report. The Partnership serves as both the Houston Chamber of Commerce and economic development association.

“ We’ re not only the nation’ s top exporting metro, but also a leader in population and GDP growth,” Kean added.

According to the report, Houston shipped $ 180.9 billion in goods in 2024, more than any other metro area in the nation. The Houston / Galveston Customs District is one of only ten districts in the US where exports exceed imports— a reflection of the region’ s strong global demand and production capacity.

The Partnership’ s report highlights how Houston’ s infrastructure, industrial base and deep global relationships position the region to better navigate trade disruptions, providing a strategic advantage that beneficial cargo owners and carriers have undoubtedly recognized.

Climbing cargoes Port Houston has been the fastestgrowing major US container port over the last decade, progressing at more than twice the rate, on average, of the other top ten fastest-growing ports. In August, Port Houston’ s loaded exports rose 5 % to 138,351 TEUs, and loaded imports increased 4 % to 169,631 TEUs.

Additionally, the port remains the top cargo port in the nation by tonnage. In 2023, it handled 309.5 million tons, a 5.3 % increase over 2022.

Liquid bulk cargoes such as petroleum products, chemicals and liquefied natural gas continue to comprise 71 % of traffic in the Houston Ship Channel. Energy trade is the mainstay of both the port and the region, supporting thousands of jobs and anchoring Texas’ global economic influence.

Another cargo type to keep an eye on is resin, primarily used in manufacturing plastics; Houston holds a 60 % market share, making it the top US port for resin exports, according to port statistics. Steel is yet another growth commodity. Through August 2025, import volumes of products integral to the nation’ s construction, energy automotive and manufacturing sectors— including pipe, sheet and structural steel— were up 7 % at Port Houston. Overall steel volumes increased by 4 %, or 3.2 million short tons, compared with the same time last year.

While the port noted it anticipates a fourth-quarter slowdown, container volumes remained strong through September, and long-term prospects are bullish.

Reflecting that outlook, one of Port Houston’ s top investments is the new Wharf 7 at Bayport Container Terminal. With the project expected to be completed by the end of 2025, the improvements will allow five ships to berth simultaneously instead of four.

Infrastructure for tomorrow Terminal space in the port district is increasingly at a premium.

“ As our container throughput approaches another record year, we are prepared for today’ s needs and also evaluating continued efficiencies and developments to meet the needs of the future as well,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston.

The port’ s planned $ 1.9 billion in landside capital investments between 2025 and 2029 include plenty of new berth capacity, such as construction of a new Wharf 1 at Bayport. There may also be a third container complex in the port’ s future.

One of the most important projects in Port Houston’ s history is the Houston Ship Channel Expansion, known as Project 11, and its elements are all but complete.

“ Project 11 is federally funded to completion and delivering benefits sooner than typical for a project of this scale,” Jenkins said.“ At the same time, we’ re already planning for the next channel project. Project 12 is already being discussed because we know we can’ t stop with today’ s improvements. We are thinking decades ahead to keep Houston globally competitive.”

Portions of the expansion that are already complete have provided immediate benefits, such as a reduction in daylight restrictions by up to two-anda-half hours in each direction, increasing time for two-way vessel traffic along the waterway and improving efficiency.

The port gave credit to its customers and channel users for moving the channel expansion forward, in coordination with the key groups that keep the port

46 Journal of Commerce | November 3, 2025 www. joc. com