Moving the world and driving regional prosperity
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
HOUSTON TRADE AND LOGISTICS
for PHPME. These steps reflect Port Houston’ s commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Meeting changing customer needs
Similar to its environmental initiatives, the port’ s customer expectations are evolving— efficiency, velocity and visibility are top of mind. In addition to its Express Pass reservation system, Port Houston has launched an Execution and Visibility Platform( EVP), a cloudbased API providing real-time data on vessel, inventory and road services. The new platform reflects Port Houston’ s commitment to transparency and allows customers to make better data-driven decisions to reduce waste in the supply chain, port officials said.
Additionally, Port Houston’ s new cloudbased Customer Service Contact Center was designed to help customers and partners get answers faster. It streamlines how calls, chats and emails are handled across the terminals, improving response times, reducing trouble tickets and providing real-time support more efficiently.
“ Our focus is always resiliency— building the ability to respond quickly, recover fast and keep the channel and our terminals safe and efficient,” Casey said.
Hotbed for logistics tech, onshoring
Beyond the port, Houston is emerging as a logistics technology hub. According to commercial real estate agency Lee & Associates, developments are integrating robotics-ready layouts, IoT systems and EV fleet infrastructure.
“ Tenants today are asking not just about square footage, but about functionality, power capacity and how fast they can be up and running,” said Justin Tunnell, principal at Lee & Associates.
The metro area has a great deal of warehousing and distribution center space under construction to support local needs and global trade. The Greater Houston Partnership noted 81 foreign-owned companies have recently announced plans to relocate, expand or start operations; a 56 % increase from 2023.
“ We’ re seeing increased interest in the Houston metro as a destination for onshoring. Houston is well-positioned to adapt, respond and benefit from global economic shifts,” Kean said.
Not just a gateway
Houston’ s trade and logistics sector is not just surviving— it’ s thriving. Through strategic investments, technological innovation and commitment to workforce development, Port Houston is setting a new standard for resilience and growth, remaining one of the nation’ s most vital logistics hubs in a volatile global market.
As the world navigates uncertainty, the seaport and greater Houston trade and logistics sector stand firm as an economic engine, a trade and logistics leader, and a beacon for global trade. ■
email: lori. musser @ att. net
Moving the world and driving regional prosperity
For more than a century, Port Houston has owned and operated the eight public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’ s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the strategic leader for the Houston Ship Channel complex and its over 200 private and eight public terminals, serving as the nation’ s largest port for waterborne tonnage. The port handles hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually and contributes nearly $ 1 trillion in economic value to the US economy. It stands as a gateway to global commerce, consistently playing a pivotal role in connecting markets and fostering prosperity. Port Houston moves 73 % of container traffic in the US Gulf Coast and stands as the fifth-largest container port in the nation.
In 2024, Port Houston saw remarkable growth, underpinned by its commitment to operational excellence and infrastructure advancements. Port Houston achieved record-breaking total tonnage and container volumes, reflecting its ability to adapt to evolving market demands and sustain its position as a top-performing US port. With a 60 % market share in resin exports and growing connections to key markets in the Caribbean, South America and East Asia, Port Houston remains at the forefront of global trade.
A major highlight of Port Houston’ s ongoing development is Project 11, the largest expansion project in the Houston Ship Channel’ s history. These efforts are deepening and widening the channel to accommodate larger vessels, enhance safety and support growing trade volumes, benefiting all users of the channel. With significant progress made so far, Project 11 underscores the port’ s commitment to meeting future demands while delivering benefits such as reduced daylight restrictions and improved vessel transit times. The project also emphasizes environmental stewardship, integrating sustainable practices to protect the waterway’ s natural ecosystem.
Port Houston prioritizes supplier diversity, workforce development, community engagement and sustainability. Through efforts such as the maritime education program; the small, minorityand women-owned business enterprises( S / MWBE) program; community resource fairs; environmental restoration projects; and partnerships, Port Houston is advancing its vision as the nation’ s premier maritime gateway for sustainable growth and opportunity.
For more information, visit www. porthouston. com. ■
48 Journal of Commerce | November 3, 2025 www. joc. com