Posted on July 21, 2025
Port Houston has passed a major throughput milestone, handling over 2.1 million TEUs by the end of June—even as monthly container volumes took a slight dip.
June container traffic reached 331,864 TEUs, a modest 2% decrease compared to the same month in 2024. But despite that, year-to-date volumes rose 3%, totaling 2,169,677 TEUs handled across Port Houston’s terminals.
The real engine behind this growth? Resin exports. Holding a commanding 60% share of the U.S. resin market, the port has seen a 16% year-over-year surge in loaded container exports. While imports were down 9% for the month, outbound cargo continues to balance the books and power overall performance.
Charlie Jenkins, CEO at Port Houston, emphasized operational efficiency as the port prepares to implement a new reefer import dwell fee effective August 1. “This fee, relevant specifically to reefers that dwell in our yards longer periods of time, is necessary for us to make efficient use of our terminal space and provide optimal service levels to all of our customers,” he said. The fee will apply only to loaded refrigerated import containers, aiming to streamline yard operations and keep terminal traffic flowing smoothly.
Elsewhere on the docks, general cargo volumes have ticked up 6% year-to-date, while steel imports rose 3%, with public terminals handling 2,184,349 short tons of steel by the mid-year point. Overall, public facility tonnage hit 27.46 million short tons, also marking a 3% increase from last year’s levels.
Later this year, maritime and logistics professionals will gather in Houston for the 4th Houston International Maritime Conference (HIMC25). According to Jenkins, this year’s event promises a broader scope of discussion, from container trade trends to energy sector shifts. “The lineup for HIMC25 truly reflects the scale and diversity of the industries we serve,” he said, highlighting the conference’s role as a hub for collaboration and candid industry conversation.
