Port Houston recorded an 11% year-over-year improve in container volumes in September, fueled by stronger imports and enhancing export exercise by its Bayport and Barbours Reduce container terminals.
The port dealt with 376,419 twenty-foot equal models (TEUs) throughout the month, in contrast with 337,659 TEUs throughout the identical month in 2025, in response to figures introduced throughout the Oct. 21 Port Fee assembly.
By the primary 9 months of 2026, Port Houston dealt with 3.35 million TEUs, up 2% from 3.27 million TEUs throughout the identical interval final yr.
Loaded container imports rose 16% yr over yr in September to 174,189 TEUs, whereas loaded exports elevated 2% to 132,009 TEUs.
Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins stated September’s efficiency represented a major enchancment after a difficult begin to 2026.
“We had a reasonably tough begin to the yr,” Jenkins informed commissioners, including that latest cargo exercise had improved the port’s outlook heading into the ultimate quarter.
Ryan Mariacher, the port’s chief operations officer, stated container exercise at Bayport and Barbours Reduce continued to profit from stronger import demand, whereas export volumes started accelerating towards the tip of September.
“The expansion at Bayport and Barber’s Reduce for the month was largely pushed by imports,” Mariacher stated throughout the assembly.
He added that the second half of September and first half of October introduced a long-anticipated surge in export volumes.
Port officers stated ocean carriers and shippers anticipate the stronger export exercise to proceed within the close to time period, doubtlessly supporting extra freight actions by Houston’s container terminals.
Houston container imports outperform nationwide tendencies
John Mosley, Port Houston’s chief industrial officer, stated import demand remained unusually robust throughout the third quarter, historically the height delivery season as retailers put together for year-end gross sales.
“This yr has been unusually excessive with Port Houston outpacing the remainder of the nation,” Mosley informed commissioners.
He cited Nationwide Retail Federation Port Tracker information displaying Houston among the many strongest-performing main U.S. container gateways for import progress.
Loaded imports by Port Houston elevated 6% yr up to now by September, in contrast with a a lot weaker nationwide import market, in response to Mosley.
The port’s September figures confirmed loaded imports rising to 1.56 million TEUs by the primary 9 months, in contrast with 1.47 million TEUs throughout the identical interval in 2025.
Mosley stated the port was cautiously optimistic that exports would proceed strengthening throughout the fourth quarter.
Port officers have been assembly with main worldwide ocean carriers to debate extra delivery capability, improved terminal throughput and alternatives to broaden providers.
Eric Casey, Port Houston’s chief working officer, stated the port launched a brand new container and refrigerated cargo service in September and was negotiating extra providers.
“Commercially, we began a brand new container and reefer service in September, and extra providers are being negotiated at the moment, so we’re rising,” Casey stated.
The port’s September 2026 comparative statistics additionally confirmed a 31% improve in empty container exports, to 55,963 TEUs, in contrast with 42,782 TEUs a yr earlier.
The rise in empty gear actions underscores the significance of container repositioning as ocean carriers steadiness import and export demand.
Vessel visitors will increase as cargo volumes rebound
Port Houston recorded 750 vessel actions at its public terminals throughout September, up 10% from 681 a yr earlier.
By September, vessel actions totaled 6,562, an 8% improve from 6,096 throughout the identical interval final yr.
Barge exercise additionally elevated, with 181 actions in September, up 23% yr over yr.
The upper vessel exercise coincided with stronger cargo throughput on the port’s public terminals, the place whole income tonnage elevated 15% yr over yr to 4.88 million tons.
12 months-to-date cargo tonnage reached 42.37 million tons, up 2% from the identical interval in 2025.
Port officers additionally highlighted the completion of Port Houston-led parts of Mission 11, the Houston Ship Channel growth undertaking designed to accommodate bigger vessels and enhance navigation.
The undertaking widened a bit of the Houston Ship Channel by Galveston Bay from 530 ft to 700 ft, permitting bigger ships to maneuver extra effectively and decreasing daylight navigation restrictions.
Jenkins stated Port Houston was additionally advancing planning for Mission 12, the subsequent main growth of the Houston Ship Channel, whereas contemplating methods to speed up particular person enhancements to keep up the competitiveness of its container terminals.
He famous that Port Houston beforehand accelerated channel enhancements serving Bayport and Barbours Reduce slightly than ready for the broader federal undertaking schedule.
Metal imports surge 181% in September
Past containers, Port Houston reported a pointy improve in metal shipments, reflecting stronger exercise tied to building, manufacturing and vitality infrastructure tasks.
Metal imports totaled 539,993 tons in September, up 181% from 192,351 tons a yr earlier.
Mixed metal imports and exports exceeded 581,000 tons, the port’s strongest month-to-month metal efficiency since Might 2022, in response to operations officers.
Port Houston additionally reported its first consecutive months exceeding 500,000 tons of metal in additional than a decade.
Common cargo volumes have additionally elevated, with officers pointing to rail-bound undertaking cargo, together with giant electrical gear and infrastructure elements, as an essential contributor to progress.
September cargo statistics at a look
| Metric | September 2026 | 12 months-over-year |
| Whole container quantity | 376,419 TEUs | +11% |
| Loaded import containers | 174,189 TEUs | +16% |
| Loaded export containers | 132,009 TEUs | +2% |
| Empty export containers | 55,963 TEUs | +31% |
| Whole income tonnage | 4.88 million tons | +15% |
| Metal imports | 539,993 tons | +181% |
| Public-terminal vessel actions | 750 | +10% |
| Barge actions | 181 | +23% |
Why it issues: Stronger container volumes at Port Houston sign continued demand for Gulf Coast freight transportation and will assist extra trucking, warehousing and intermodal exercise.
The put up Port Houston container volumes bounce 11% as imports surge in September appeared first on BigRig.