Posted on September 30, 2026
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HOUSTON — A new study by Martin Associates shows Port Houston is closing in on a massive financial milestone. In 2025, the waterway generated $987 billion in economic impact nationwide.
Often referred to simply as City Docks, the Turning Basin Terminal is the oldest part of Port Houston, dating back to 1914 when the Houston Ship Channel first opened.
Jordan Frisby, Port Houston’s chief of staff, says nearly 290 million tons of cargo moved through the waterway last year, making it the nation’s busiest by cargo volume.
Out of roughly 200 terminals along the 52-mile stretch, Port Houston operates eight public ones.
At the Turning Basin Terminal, the cargo is breakbulk, which means it is handled as individual pieces rather than in containers. Most of it consists of steel, pipes and oversized equipment, which are primarily used to support oil and gas production activity.
Frisby says most of what is imported into the Port goes straight into the Texas landscape to fuel regional growth.
“There’s an insatiable demand for cement. We’re really just moving a huge amount to support all construction in Houston and Austin and the surrounding areas,” said Frisby.
While much of the heavy material stays domestic to support infrastructure and energy production, Frisby says international exports include overseas shipments of frozen beef and poultry.
With economic impacts reaching 98% of counties across Texas and nearly $1 trillion nationwide, port officials say the growth could soon reach a historic milestone.
“We continue to see increases in both our energy cargo and our container traffic,” said Frisby.
