Texas ports defy tariff uncertainty with document cargo efficiency

Document first-half container volumes at Port Houston and historic cargo tonnage at the Port of Corpus Christi counsel shippers and power exporters are nonetheless transferring freight regardless of an more and more unsure international commerce surroundings.

Port Houston dealt with 389,962 twenty-foot equal models (TEUs) throughout June, an 18% improve from the identical month final 12 months, whereas first-half container volumes climbed to a document 2.23 million TEUs, the best six-month whole within the port’s historical past.

“Our area is resilient and our port is able to deal with the varied cargo wants,” Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins stated in a information launch. “General, we’re well-positioned for long-term progress and continued international competitiveness.”

The June outcomes had been led by a 27% improve in loaded import containers to 177,097 TEUs, whereas whole container visitors rose 18% 12 months over 12 months. Loaded export containers declined 2% through the month however remained primarily flat by means of the primary six months of 2026.

Metal cargo additionally rebounded throughout June. Metal imports elevated 40% to 406,452 tons, whereas whole metal tonnage climbed 46% 12 months over 12 months. 

Regardless of the sturdy month-to-month achieve, metal cargo stays down 14% 12 months to this point in comparison with 2025. Basic cargo continued to outperform, rising 55% in June and 34% by means of the primary half of the 12 months.

General tonnage transferring by means of Port Houston’s public terminals reached 4.68 million tons throughout June, up 4% from a 12 months earlier, whereas first-half tonnage totaled 28.2 million tons, a 3% improve.

The broader Houston Ship Channel area additionally continued to learn from sturdy exports. By means of Could, regional commerce tonnage elevated 17%, fueled by a 23% rise in exports, whereas import tonnage declined 4%. Crude oil and refined merchandise accounted for greater than half of all cargo transferring by means of the ship channel.

The Port of Corpus Christi posts document power commodity volumes in Q1

The Port of Corpus Christi reported the strongest second quarter and first half in its historical past.

Clients moved 55.8 million tons of commodities through the second quarter, surpassing the earlier quarterly document established earlier this 12 months. 

By means of June, cargo volumes reached 110.3 million tons, a 7.7% improve over the earlier first-half document set in 2025.

June cargo totaled 16.67 million tons, in contrast with 17.24 million tons throughout the identical month a 12 months in the past. Nevertheless, year-to-date volumes continued to set data, supported by sturdy petroleum, crude oil and liquefied pure gasoline shipments.

Development at Corpus Christi was pushed by a number of commodity sectors through the first half of 2026:

• LNG volumes elevated 36.3% to 11.5 million tons.
• Agricultural commodities surged to 2.1 million tons, up from about 189,000 tons a 12 months earlier.
• Refined merchandise elevated 8.9% to 17.1 million tons.
• Different bulk liquids rose 11.7% to eight.2 million tons.
• Pure gasoline liquids elevated 18.4%.
• Crude oil shipments reached 66 million tons, up 1.3% 12 months over 12 months.

“The continued progress in a number of commodities displays the numerous benefits gained by completion of the ship channel enchancment undertaking final 12 months,” Port of Corpus Christi CEO Kent Britton stated in a information launch. 

Why it issues: June’s cargo reviews present Texas’ Gulf Coast ports proceed to learn from two distinct however complementary progress engines—containerized imports and exports by means of Houston and booming U.S. power exports by means of Corpus Christi—offering one other optimistic sign for freight markets and worldwide commerce regardless of continued tariff uncertainty.

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