Port Houston dealt with 353,319 TEUs in April, down 10% from March and 9% yr over yr, marking the port’s first quarterly container decline since early 2025 as world commerce volatility and softer metal imports weighed on volumes.
Nonetheless, port executives mentioned cargo exercise is already recovering in Might, with imports as soon as once more driving progress.
Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins mentioned the port continues to be seeing robust vessel exercise regardless of the momentary slowdown in containers.
“In April, we had 754 vessel visits within the port, which is 6% greater than final April,” Jenkins mentioned in the course of the Port Fee assembly Wednesday. “However we’re seeing this quantity enhance each single month.”
Jenkins mentioned bigger vessels transferring by the Houston Ship Channel are serving to drive export progress, significantly energy-related commodities.
“Export tonnage is up 19% this yr,” Jenkins mentioned. “Crude oil, refined merchandise, petroleum gases are driving a variety of this progress.”
Port Houston remained the world’s high export gateway for liquefied petroleum gases corresponding to propane, butane and methane, in accordance with Jenkins.
“Exports of petroleum gases are up 33%, and we stay the primary port on the planet for gases like butane, propane and methane,” Jenkins mentioned.
Container volumes soften in April
In accordance with Port Houston’s month-to-month statistics report, complete container throughput reached 353,319 TEUs in April, down 10% in comparison with March and down 9% yr over yr.
Yr-to-date container volumes totaled 1.44 million TEUs, down 1% in comparison with the identical interval in 2025.
Loaded import containers totaled 162,798 TEUs in April, down 8% yr over yr, whereas loaded export containers fell 5% to 132,339 TEUs. Empty export containers declined 18% yr over yr.
Port Houston Chief Port Operations Officer Ryan Mariacher mentioned April’s decline adopted a robust first quarter and shouldn’t be considered as a long-term pattern.
“April introduced a decline or normalization in quantity after a robust March and first quarter,” Mariacher mentioned. “However regardless of the decline, complete tonnage stays up 3%, as we’ve dealt with over 18.5 million tons by April.”
Mariacher mentioned import cargo is already exhibiting indicators of restoration in Might.
“The excellent news once more in Might is in the event you have a look at our volumes by yesterday, complete TEU is definitely up 1% with imports driving that progress as soon as once more,” Mariacher mentioned.
Mixed loaded container volumes at Bayport and Barbours Reduce terminals declined practically 7% yr over yr in April, although Mariacher mentioned general efficiency stays steady relative to current quarters.
“Mixed volumes by April on the container terminals Bayport and Barber’s Reduce resulted in a lower in loaded items of practically 7% versus final April,” Mariacher mentioned. “However the excellent news is the month remained on common for the previous three quarters.”
Metal imports stay weak whereas bulk cargo rises
Metal imports by April totaled 1.05 million tons, down 29% yr over yr, persevering with a pattern port officers have been monitoring for months.
“The metal decline continued as we anticipated, dropping one other p.c, now down 28% yr to this point,” Mariacher mentioned.
Nonetheless, Mariacher famous Might might present a turnaround for metal cargoes.
“The excellent news right here is Might is forecasted to be the most important month for metal volumes since final July,” he mentioned.
Dry bulk tonnage remained one of many port’s strongest cargo segments, rising 44% yr to this point to 2.25 million tons, whereas liquid bulk cargo volumes climbed 20% yr over yr to 1.13 million tons.
Whole income tonnage for the port reached 18.56 million tons by April, up 3% yr over yr.
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