Image:Cranes arriving to Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal
Container volumes at Port Houston have soared in the first quarter of 2024. From January to March, Port Houston handled 1,069,917 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) year-to-date, marking a substantial 15% increase compared to the same period last year. March alone witnessed container volumes at Port Houston reaching 360,991 TEUs, reflecting a significant 20% increase compared to March 2023, making it Port Houston’s most substantial March on record.
Consumer spending on items like furniture and appliances notably contributed to loaded import volumes, which surged by 23% this March compared to the same month last year and 14% year-to-date. Loaded export volumes, primarily resins, also saw a considerable uptick by 12% in March and 15% for the year, totaling 404,124 TEUs year-to-date.
“The improvements we continue to make at our facilities, combined with a committed workforce, have allowed us to efficiently handle the double-digit growth in both imports and exports during the first quarter,” stated Roger Guenther, Executive Director at Port Houston. “Our customers can count on us to continue to invest in the infrastructure and people we need to move their cargo quickly through our terminals as demand increases.”
The M/V Happy Diamond recently delivered six hybrid-electric rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes to Bayport Container Terminal, one of several RTG deliveries scheduled for Port Houston terminals this year. Compared to diesel models, these RTG cranes offer enhanced environmental benefits, reducing NOx, PM, HC, and CO by 90%.
“The steady addition of hybrid-electric cranes to the fleet at Port Houston’s terminals reflects our commitment to continue to invest in landside infrastructure as well as our goal to reach carbon neutrality by the year 2050,” added Guenther.
Three new STS cranes are also anticipated to be delivered to Port Houston this summer, bringing this year’s total to 32 STS cranes and 147 RTGs across both facilities. Furthermore, Port Houston’s Barbours Cut Container Terminal container yards 4 North and 5 North have recently undergone enhancements, including the installation of strengthened concrete surfaces to increase longevity. This project also introduced truck bypass lanes, enhancing safety within the terminals and bolstering cargo handling efficiency.
Steel volumes at Port Houston’s multipurpose facilities experienced a decline of 10% in March compared to the same month last year and are down 20% through the end of the first quarter of this year. Conversely, lumber saw a surge of 16% in March and 18% year-to-date. Total tonnage across all of Port Houston’s terminals is up 4% through March, totaling 13,422,452 tons year-to-date.
