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Business Steady for Port of Houston
[ March 28, 2016 // Gary G Burrows ]During the month of February, nearly 3 million tons of cargo crossed Port of Houston Authority docks. Today, in his report to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority at its regular meeting, Executive Director Roger Guenther stated that this steady business “demonstrates the Port Authority’s resiliency, and the diversity of its operations.”
In February the Port Authority showed a decline of 12% in general cargo, driven primarily by a drop in import steel; however container volume held steady, with a slight growth of 1%.
Guenther noted that at the same time last year, loaded container volume was up nearly 18%, due to the diversion of cargo from the West Coast. He emphasized that a decline of only 2% over the first two months of 2016 from that strong showing demonstrated “we have successfully retained a tremendous amount of the business that was diverted.”
Growth is one of the Port Authority’s four strategic goals. Guenther highlighted recent growth accomplishments – securing a new service with ACL/Grimaldi Lines and lease agreements with AGRO Merchants Group and Ridge Development – as examples of progress towards becoming America’s distribution hub for the next generation.
Among other business, the Port Commission entered into an amendment and renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding with the Panama Canal Authority. The Commission also entered in a Memorandum of Friendship and Trade Cooperation with the Gabon Ports and Harbors Authority-OPRAG.
Left to right: Regis Laccruche, Commander of the Ports of Gabon, Rigobert Ikambouayat, Chairman of the Ports of Gabon, Port of Houston Authority Chairman Janiece Longoria, Raoul Keddy, President of the America-Africa Chamber of Commerce and Board Member, City of Houston Mayor’s International Trade & Development Council (Photo: Business Wire)
Tags: Port of Houston