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US data center spending is expected to reach $ 247.8 billion in 2026, a three-fold increase from 2023. Shutterstock. com

US data center buildout boosts Enstructure’ s Gulf Coast network

By Michael Angell

The US buildout of data centers, power plants and related infrastructure is lifting project cargo volumes along the Gulf Coast, according to the co-chief executives of maritime logistics firm Enstructure. With Southern and Midwestern states targeted for much of the investment, Enstructure’ s expanded Gulf Coast terminal network could take on a greater role in that buildout.

In early September the company completed its acquisition of terminal operator Logistec, which will bring Enstructure’ s North American terminal network from 22 to 104. Along with terminals in Canada, the US East Coast and Midwest, Enstructure has added sites at 12 US Gulf Coast ports from Texas to Florida. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Co-CEO Matthew Satnick told the Journal of Commerce the company became interested in Logistec in 2023. That year, Enstructure made its first Gulf Coast terminal

acquisition of Houston-based Richardson Group, but Satnick said the company wanted greater scale in that market. Montreal-based Logistec had just gone private in a C $ 1.2 billion transaction. But Enstructure reached out to Logistec’ s private equity owners about a potential transaction, Satnick said.

“ We were not in a position to go after Logistec at the time, given what we were doing to build our company,” Satnick said.“ But we were very intrigued when you look at their map and what we have. It’ s almost like a perfect puzzle.“ We had a nice business,” he added.“ Now you look at this Gulf Coast business, that’ s a real juggernaut.” Enstructure handles multiple commodities, but it has recently developed strength in project cargoes related to US infrastructure projects, co-CEO Philippe De Montigny said. Houston and other Gulf Coast ports“ are definitely hubs for those types of cargoes” entering the US, he said.

“ We’ ve seen an increase in project cargo business,” he said.“ Large components manufactured overseas, turbines for power generation or those types of things.”

Long tail of AI buildout

Infrastructure spending is helping boost Houston’ s breakbulk volumes. Port Houston Authority said general cargo tonnage grew 35 % year-to-date through July, with the volume gain partly due to data centers and similar projects, according to port officials.

Spending on US data centers is expected to reach $ 247.8 billion in 2026, according to a new report from 451 Research by S & P Global, a three-fold increase from

40 Journal of Commerce | October 5, 2026 www. joc. com