Benefits

Texas Ports Stimulate Texas Economy

Texas ports rank No. 2 in the US 50 states handling 500 million tons of foreign and domestic cargo.

  • Nearly 1 million jobs to Texans
  • Over $48 billion in personal income for Texans
  • Maritime industry represents over $135 billion in economic value to the state.

Marine and intermodal transportation alone accounts for nearly $65 billion, or 10%, of the Texas gross state product. Annually, ports bring in almost $5 billion in local and state tax revenue.

Ports impact the state from the coast inland to El Paso and Oklahoma

  • Agricultural products grown on Texas farms and ranches are exported to foreign countries through Texas Ports.
  • U.S. petrochemical industry concentrated near the Texas coast import and export product through Texas Ports.
  • Industrial and agricultural machinery is imported and exported through Texas Ports.
  • Containerized shipments carrying goods for WalMart and other major retailers enter the U.S. through Texas Ports.
  • Gulf coast sea food travels inland to consumers after arriving at Texas Ports.
  • Vacationers from Texas and surrounding states embark on cruise vacations from a Texas Port.
  • Foreign manufactured automobiles are distributed to dealers all over the country after arriving at Texas Ports.

Texas competes in the Global Economy

  • Texas Ports rank No. 2 in the U.S. in waterborne commerce handling almost 500 million tons of foreign and domestic cargo
  • Texas Ports represent 19% of all U.S. Port tonnage.
  • Texas Ports in the top 10 largest ports in the U.S.: Port of Houston, Port of Corpus Christi, Port of Beaumont, Port of Texas City.
  • The Port of Houston is first in the U.S. in imports and 2nd  in exports and total tonnage.

Bringing it All Together

Texas ports are connected to one another and to the rest of the U.S. inland waterway system by the Gulf Intracostal Waterway (GIWW). The GIWW allows ocean-going shipping to connect with barge traffic. The Texas portion of the GIWW transports more than 73 million tons of cargo annually, moving in 40,000 barges each year. In comparison, the same cargo volume would take over 3 million semi-trailers or over 570,000 rail cars to move.

Keeping Texas Ports Competitive

Ports in Texas compete with ports in states all along the Gulf of Mexico, as well as ports in other parts of the U.S. and Mexico. Costs related to environmental regulations and federal reductions in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget to maintain the federally authorized depth in deep draft ports and the shallow draft channels of the GIWW will definitely hurt Texas Ports in competing for new business and growing the state’s global trade markets.

The Texas Ports Association members support a balance between economic development and environmental concerns.