Port Houston says mushy March numbers have been balanced by robust exports
Amidst a nationwide softening of imports, Port Houston says it noticed “important demand” in loaded export containers in March, recording a ten% enhance over March of final 12 months and the best month-to-month quantity for that class in its historical past, the port mentioned immediately.
Loaded export volumes at Port Houston reached 349,964 twenty-foot equal items (TEUs) year-to-date, a rise of 26% within the first quarter of this 12 months in comparison with final. Empty import volumes additionally elevated by 111% for the month in comparison with March 2022, as carriers reposition containers to Houston to fulfill the excessive demand for resin and petrochemical exports.
Like the remainder of the nation, the Texas facility noticed situations soften in current weeks, notching a 3% decline in whole TEUs in March. However port leaders mentioned that container volumes via Port Houston are on observe to hit 1 million TEUs earlier within the 12 months than ever earlier than. In Q1 2023, Port Houston dealt with 934,031 TEUs, or a rise of three% in comparison with final 12 months.
“We proceed to see the softening of import demand throughout the U.S. and in Houston as effectively, the place loaded import container TEUs at Port Houston’s terminals have been down 12% in March. Nevertheless, whole throughput is offset by the robust export market we have now in Houston and our skill to supply each export and import clients glorious customer support, expert labor, and an environment friendly gateway,” Roger Guenther, govt director at Port Houston, mentioned in a launch.
