Port Of Houston

The Port of Houston in Texas

The Port of Houston is one of the busiest ports in the United States. Located along the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Houston is a major container gateway to Texas and the Gulf Coast. It is the second-largest customs district in the U.S. and is connected to the continental US, Mexico, Canada, and the Far East. Port Of Houston

For over 100 years, the Port of Houston has been an important part of the state's economy. It creates jobs and prosperity and has been responsible for driving more than three million U.S. jobs and $802 billion in annual economic value.

In 2011, the Port of Houston handled more than 33.5 million tons of cargo. This represented an increase of 6% from the previous year. Imports and exports were balanced. During the year, the Port of Houston handled 16.9 million TEUs of containerized cargo. During the first half of the year, the volume of containers increased by 26%.

In August, the Port of Houston saw a 20% increase in container volume. Despite the rising volumes, the average time for a container to enter the Port of Houston has increased, from 4.5 to 6.5 days.

There are eight public terminals in the Port of Houston, including Barbours Cut and Bayport. These facilities are owned by the Port of Houston Authority. However, there are also more than 200 private industrial terminals in the greater Port of Houston.

One of the most prominent facilities in the greater Port of Houston is the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. This facility is one of the largest cargo container terminals in the country, and together with the Bayport, it represents the largest terminal on the Gulf Coast. As a result of these facilities, the Port of Houston handles more than 215,000 barges each year.

Another terminal that the Port of Houston operates is the Turning Basin Terminal. This facility is located about 11.2 kilometers from the city center and offers general cargo facilities. The terminal has three wharves, a 4.6-hectare transit shed, and 15 acres of paved open storage. Additionally, it is equipped with 300-ton shore cranes.

The port is also home to the Texas Freight Advisory Committee, which coordinates infrastructure improvements to ensure the safe and efficient movement of freight through Texas ports. It is a member of the Texas Ports Association, which is a trade organization representing all Texas ports.

Besides containers, the Port of Houston also handles liquid bulk freight. The Port of Houston moves more than two-thirds of the liquid bulk freight imported to the United States. Liquid bulk freight includes oil, gas, chemicals, and petroleum products.

Other common cargo that the Port of Houston handles include steel, metals, machinery, appliances, electronics, and apparel and accessories. Of these cargo types, materials such as iron, raw cotton, resins, and plastics made up 35% of total Port of Houston exports and accounted for over 21.7 thousand TEUs.

According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Houston had a total of dredged material areas at thirteen sites in the Port of Houston. Over six thousand acres of dredged material areas are under the control of the Port of Houston Authority.