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Brownsville Updates Drive Economic Growth

[ April 11, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

The Port of Brownsville is advancing on more than US$300 million in projects at the port, including creating U.S. operation for Mexican trade.

Food manufacturer Westa Inc., the first tenant of the Port of Brownsville’s 118-acre business park, is finalizing the layout for its US$20 million facilities at the port.

Westa will receive grains via barge from the Midwest at its 10-acre site, enhancing the company’s supply chain operations for its high-capacity flour mill and sunflower seed processing plant, which is expected to employ 120 people.

The business park, which is in the final phase of construction, is designed to support industrial growth for existing businesses at the port while attracting new opportunities. With direct connections to key transportation networks and international trade hubs, the business park provides an ideal location for companies looking to optimize logistics and strengthen their global presence.

Ternium Expands Operations

Long-time Port of Brownsville business partner Ternium is expanding operations at the port with a US$200 million development that includes a new 180-acre marine terminal.

This facility is part of the company’s broader multibillion-dollar expansion of its steel industrial center in Pesquería, Mexico. The new terminal is expected to boost steel and metal throughput at the port to more than 9 million tons annually, with further project details to be announced.

Driven by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s steel content requirements, Ternium is constructing an electric steelmaking plant in Pesquería, ensuring compliance with the 70 percent regional steel-melting mandate for the automotive industry.

This terminal will have the capacity to receive 3.1 million tons per year of imported iron ore. Key infrastructure will include a dock for iron ore reception, two mobile port cranes, a conveyor belt system, a train loading station, and a storage dome. Located adjacent to the fishing harbor, this facility will play a crucial role in Ternium’s growing operations.

The Port of Brownsville is the leading exporter of steel into Mexico, moving more than 6 million tons of steel products annually.

Forza Steel: Nearshoring at its Best

Mexican company Forza Steel is in the final stages of constructing its US$85 million manufacturing facility located along State Highway 48 at the Port of Brownsville.

Construction of the 650,000-square-foot facility began in 2023 as part of its strategy to enhance operations and serve customers more efficiently.

For more than two decades, Forza Steel has operated out of Salinas Victoria, Nuevo León, supplying steel to both the U.S. and Mexican markets. By establishing a presence at the Port of Brownsville, the company aims to reduce supply chain gaps and improve service to its growing customer base in the U.S.  The company is slated to contribute 320 direct jobs to the region.

This strategic move highlights the benefits of nearshoring, as Forza Steel positions itself closer to key markets, leveraging the port’s logistical advantages to strengthen its North American operations.

Tags: Forza Steel, Port of Brownsville, Ternium, Westa Inc.