Port Traffic Metrics: Houston, Mexico
Port Houston Traffic Growth Continued Through June
"Port Houston has already handled nearly 20 million tons of cargo this year, reflecting an increase of 13 percent from the same period last year," reported Executive Director Roger Guenther during the July 25 meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority.
His report noted other good news for Port Houston’s second quarter. Container volumes increased by 14 percent compared to the same period last year and more than 1.7 million tons of steel crossed Port Houston wharves, reflecting a year-to-date increase of nearly 50 percent.
During that same meeting, the commission agreed to increase Port Houston’s capabilities for notifying nearby communities in the event of an emergency. The commission also authorized an agreement to support a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) system that gives users of the Houston Ship Channel information on tides, water levels, and meteorological conditions.
Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria acknowledged the tenth anniversary of the Clean and Green Program. Port Houston and its partners, including Shell Oil Company and several public agencies, began the initiative in 2007, and it continues to leverage the efforts of community service workers and Buffalo Bayou Partnership to remove trash and debris from local waterways, including the Port of Houston Turning Basin. Since its inception, more than 20,000 cubic yards of these materials have been cleaned up – trash and debris equating to more than 800 garbage truckloads.
Mexico: Strong First Half 2017 for Containers, Breakbulk, Autos and Cruise Traffic
Mexico’s port system processed just over 150.1 million metric tons of cargo during first half 2017, a 4.2 percent from last year, according to "preliminary" data compiled and reported by the federal port agency, Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante. That system consists of approximately 40 port locations, including the so-called "commercial ports" and facilities specializing in bulk cargos such as fertilizer or petroleum.
Imports accounted for 59.7 million tons (+14.5 percent), exports for 59.0 million tons (-0.5 percent) and domestic shipments for nearly 31.4 million tons (-3.5 percent).
The first half was marked by double-digit growth for containerized and breakbulk cargo tonnage, modest gain for bulk minerals and non-petroleum liquid bulks, and declines for petroleum and agribulks. Other data point to sharp increases for container TEUs, auto exports and imports, cruise passengers and cruise ship arrivals.
Among the commercial ports, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, Veracruz and Altamira led the nation in cargo tonnage and containers. Veracruz and Lazaro Cardenas were the dominant auto ports. Tops in cruise based on passenger numbers were Cozumel, Majahual, Ensenada, and Cabo San Lucas. See additional details here.