Posted on July 23, 2026
The Houston Ship Channel region showed resilient trade activity, while Port Houston’s public terminals recorded strong June container volumes and a moderate rebound for steel cargo.
“The Houston Ship Channel region continues to demonstrate why it is one of the nation’s most important trade gateways,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. “Our region is resilient and our port is ready to handle the diverse cargo needs. Overall, we are well-positioned for long-term growth and continued global competitiveness.”
Key Takeaways
- Houston Ship Channel region total trade increased 17% through May, driven by a 23% increase in exports while import tonnage declined 4%.
- Crude oil and refined products together account for more than half of all tonnage moving through the Houston Ship Channel region, reinforcing the region’s role as a leading U.S. energy gateway.
- Port Houston’s public terminals handled more than 28 million tons through June, increasing 3% compared to the first half of last year and outperforming broader U.S. cargo market trends.
- General Cargo is up 34% at the public terminals with breakbulk driving much of that growth, increasing 35% through the first half of the year. Steel cargo has shown moderate growth in recent months, including a 46% increase in June, while year-to-date tonnage continues to trail last year by 14%.
- Port Houston handled 2,229,473 TEUs through H1, the biggest first-half container volume in Port Houston history.
Houston Ship Channel Region – May 2026
Source: U.S. Census Bureau data released July 9, 2026
| Tonnage (Short Tons) | May 2026 | May 2025 | Change % | 2026 YTD | 2025 YTD | Change % |
| Export | 19,329,185 | 15,088,844 | ↑ 28% | 92,402,949 | 75,354,892 | ↑ 23% |
| Import | 4,639,172 | 4,112,702 | ↑ 12% | 21,370,024 | 22,327,166 | ↓ 4% |
| Total Tonnage | 23,968,357 | 19,201,546 | ↑ 25% | 113,772,973 | 97,682,058 | ↑ 17% |
Houston Ship Channel Vessel Call Activity – June 2026
Source: Greater Houston Port Bureau’s Marine Exchange of Texas released July 3, 2026
| Vessel Traffic | June 2026 | June 2025 | Change % | 2026 YTD | 2025 YTD | Change % |
| Total Deep Draft Transits | 1,559 | 1,381 | ↑ 13% | 9,336 | 8,652 | ↑ 8% |
| Total Barge Transits | 18,180 | 17,416 | ↑ 4% | 110,262 | 104,624 | ↑ 5% |
Port Houston Public Terminals Performance – June 2026
Source: Port Houston
| Cargo Category | June 2026 | June 2025 | Change % | 2026 YTD | 2025 YTD | Change % |
| Loaded Imports (TEUs) | 177,097 | 139,453 | ↑ 27% | 1,029,667 | 963,836 | ↑ 7% |
| Loaded Exports (TEUs) | 131,011 | 133,040 | ↓ 2% | 800,967 | 803,278 | 0% |
| Total Containers (TEUs) | 389,962 | 331,864 | ↑ 18% | 2,229,473 | 2,169,677 | ↑ 3% |
| Steel Imports (Tons) | 406,452 | 290,775 | ↑ 40% | 1,844,985 | 2,184,349 | ↓ 16% |
| Steel (Tons) | 430,510 | 294,699 | ↑ 46% | 1,953,089 | 2,279,360 | ↓ 14% |
| General Cargo (Tons) | 139,128 | 89,573 | ↑ 55% | 692,934 | 517,265 | ↑ 34% |
| Total Tonnage (Tons) | 4,682,452 | 4,519,675 | ↑ 4% | 28,205,371 | 27,460,673 | ↑ 3% |
