Gulf Coast ports post mixed cargo results in May

Container flow in May decreased at Port Houston, while New Orleans got a boost from plastic resins and Corpus Christi, Texas, saw increases in crude oil and petroleum exports.

Port Houston posts mixed results for May

Container volumes at Port Houston softened for the third consecutive month.

In May, the port handled 300,482 twenty-foot equivalent units, a 10% year-over-year (y/y) decrease compared to 2022.

Total import tonnage was 2.6 million tons in May, a 6% y/y decrease. Total export tonnage was 2.3 million tons, a 5% y/y increase. 

Imports of steel decreased 54% y/y in May to 295,296 tons. Imports of general cargo increased 52% to 932,146 tons.

Loaded imports declined 12% y/y in May to 139,745 TEUs, while loaded exports increased 3% y/y to 109,220 TEUs.

During May, ship calls increased 1% y/y to 713 vessels, while barges calling at the port fell 37% to 274.

Despite the dip in import volumes, port officials said they expect stronger export flows going forward due to continued global demand for resins. 

Union Pacific Railroad recently began intermodal container services at Port Houston, with on-dock rail service kicking off on June 1 to markets in Denver, Salt Lake City, Oakland, Los Angeles and El Paso, Texas.

On June 2, BNSF Railway began freight rail service from Port Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver.

“The addition of rail service offers an exciting intermodal option to our customers,” Roger Guenther, the port’s executive director, said in a news release. “These rail options help ensure efficient movement of goods and open up new markets.”

Port of New Orleans sees increase in containers, drop in breakbulk cargo

The Port of New Orleans saw its container volume increase 2% y/y in May to 36,315 TEUs. 

The port’s top containerized cargo for the month included plastic resins, chemicals and coffee, according to officials. 

The port recorded a 68% y/y decrease in breakbulk cargo in May to 84,161 tons.

Bagged goods and steel were the top breakbulk goods moving through the port last month. During the same period last year, the port’s monthly breakbulk volumes got a boost from large shipments of steel and plywood.

The port handled 10,816 Class I rail car switches in May, a 7% y/y increase. The port handles switching operations for six Class I railroads, including BNSF Railway, CN, CSX, CPKC, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific.

Port of Corpus Christi records 9% increase in total cargo tonnage

The Port of Corpus Christi saw a 9% y/y increase in total cargo to 16.4 million tons in May, led by exports of crude oil and petroleum.

The port handled 10.7 million total tons of crude oil during the month, a 23% y/y increase compared to last year. Exports of crude oil for May topped 9.9 million tons, a 24% y/y increase.

Shipments of petroleum totaled 5 million tons during May, a 6% y/y decline. Exports of petroleum fell 9% y/y to 3.9 million tons for the month, while imports increased 10% y/y to 1.1 million tons.

Dry bulk cargo decreased 32% y/y to 456,637 tons in May, while shipments of liquid chemicals declined 1% y/y to 241,709 tons.

The port reported bulk grain export shipments of 66,692 tons but did not record any imports of bulk grain.

Corpus Christi handled 192 ships in May, a 3% y/y decline, while barge calls increased 17% y/y to 510.

Watch: National Truckload Index NTI climbs back up to $2.24.

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