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Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Export and Import Values, Port of Corpus Christi, 2003-2024 (in billions)
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4
Share of Exports from Port of Corpus Christi to Destination Country, 2024
Exhibit 5
Share of Imports to Port of Corpus Christi by Country of Origin, 2024
Exhibit 6
Port of Entry: Corpus ChristiImpact to the Texas Economy, 2024
Texas ports of entry accounted for more than $1 trillion in international trade in 2024.1 Texas has 32 official ports of entry that serve as critical gateways to global trade. Each port — whether an airport, land port or seaport — serves many domestic and international economic activities across multiple industries. Each port also plays a distinctive role in the state’s transportation network and contributes to state and local economies.
Of Texas’ total international trade, 40.4 percent, or $429.4 billion in goods, traveled across the state’s seaports, with Port of Corpus Christi accounting for 21 percent of seaport trade, or $88.6 billion. Each seaport facilitates the movement of goods between Texas and other nations. Each Texas seaport is unique, offering different capabilities and many shipping options, including bulk, roll-on/roll-off, container and liquid/gas shipping.
Economic Contribution of Trade
Based on the Comptroller’s estimate, trade through Port Corpus Christi in 2024 resulted in 864,000 jobs and contributed $113 billion to Texas’ gross domestic product (GDP) (Exhibit 1).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total direct trade value | $88.6 billion |
| Gross domestic product | $113.3 billion |
| Total employment | 864,122 |
Notes: “Gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas; “Total employment” refers to both direct and indirect employment.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online; Regional Economic Models Inc. model for Texas; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts analysis.
Port of Corpus Christi Trade
Port of Corpus Christi is one of 23 seaports along Texas’ 367-mile Gulf Coast. Total trade through the port rose by a staggering 487 percent between 2016 and 2024. Port of Corpus Christi was a net exporter by trade value in 2024, seeing $82.7 billion in exports and $5.9 billion in imports (Exhibit 2).
Export and Import Values, Port of Corpus Christi, 2003-2024 (in billions)
Data for Exhibit 2
| Year | Exports | Imports | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $1.9 | $8.0 | $9.9 |
| 2004 | $1.9 | $9.9 | $11.8 |
| 2005 | $2.2 | $13.2 | $15.5 |
| 2006 | $3.3 | $15.5 | $18.8 |
| 2007 | $4.0 | $18.2 | $22.1 |
| 2008 | $5.0 | $24.7 | $29.7 |
| 2009 | $4.0 | $14.7 | $18.7 |
| 2010 | $5.9 | $19.1 | $25.0 |
| 2011 | $10.0 | $20.8 | $30.8 |
| 2012 | $10.6 | $17.8 | $28.5 |
| 2013 | $10.4 | $14.6 | $25.1 |
| 2014 | $12.1 | $12.9 | $25.0 |
| 2015 | $9.9 | $7.0 | $16.9 |
| 2016 | $9.8 | $5.3 | $15.1 |
| 2017 | $15.8 | $7.0 | $22.8 |
| 2018 | $23.3 | $7.2 | $30.4 |
| 2019 | $28.6 | $5.7 | $34.4 |
| 2020 | $31.8 | $4.0 | $35.7 |
| 2021 | $51.9 | $5.2 | $57.1 |
| 2022 | $86.4 | $8.1 | $94.5 |
| 2023 | $81.3 | $5.4 | $86.7 |
| 2024 | $82.7 | $5.9 | $88.6 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
The top export commodities by value from Port of Corpus Christi in 2024 were mineral fuels ($80 billion), followed by organic chemicals ($1.2 billion) and cereals ($619.5 million). These commodities accounted for 98.9 percent of the port’s total exports. Top imports to the port included mineral fuels ($4.8 billion), ores and slag ($301.6 million) and machinery and equipment ($275.6 million) (Exhibit 3).
| Commodity | Export Value (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Mineral Fuels | $79,991.5 |
| Organic Chemicals | $1,179.6 |
| Cereals | $619.5 |
| Iron And Steel | $349.7 |
| Inorganic Chemicals | $218.3 |
| Total All Commodities | $82,667.2 |
| Commodity | Import Value (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Mineral Fuels | $4,763.8 |
| Ores, Slag And Ash | $301.6 |
| Nuclear Reactors, Boilers, Machinery Etc.; Parts | $275.6 |
| Iron And Steel | $183.6 |
| Electric Machinery Etc; Sound Equipment; Tv Equipment Parts | $111.4 |
| Total All Commodities | $5,921.5 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
The value of exports from Port of Corpus Christi to its top five recipient countries was $42 billion in 2024, or 51 percent of its total. The Netherlands was the leading destination for exported goods, receiving 16 percent of all exported commodities from the port (Exhibit 4).
Share of Exports from Port of Corpus Christi to Destination Country, 2024
Data for Exhibit 4
| Country | Exports (in billions) | Share of Exports |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $13.3 | 16% |
| Korea, South | $11.9 | 14% |
| United Kingdom | $6.0 | 7% |
| Taiwan | $5.8 | 7% |
| Singapore | $5.0 | 6% |
| Other | $40.7 | 49% |
| Total | $82.7 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
Port of Corpus Christi’s top five import trading partners accounted for 64 percent of its $5.9 billion in imports in 2024, with Mexico comprising over a fifth of all imports (Exhibit 5).
Share of Imports to Port of Corpus Christi by Country of Origin, 2024
Data for Exhibit 5
| Country | Imports (in billions) | Share of Imports |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $1.3 | 22% |
| Colombia | $0.9 | 15% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | $0.6 | 10% |
| Kuwait | $0.6 | 10.1% |
| Venezuela | $0.4 | 7% |
| Other | $2.1 | 36% |
| Total | $5.9 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
Port of Corpus Christi — Capital Improvement Projects
Port of Corpus Christi underwent several capital improvement projects in 2024, with total project costs of $1.5 billion (Exhibit 6). Projects include the deepening and widening of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and dock deepening project.
| Project | Cost (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project | $681.6 |
| Corpus Christi Ship Channel Dock Deepening Project | $330.0 |
| Ingleside Low Carbon Energy Terminal | $288.5 |
| Ingleside Cargo Dock | $129.0 |
| Inland Industrial Port Campus | $81.5 |
| La Quinta Channel Expansion Feasibility Study | $4.5 |
| Corpus Christi Ship Channel Queuing Area Feasibility Study | $3.0 |
| Total Major Construction Project Costs | $1,518.1 |
Source: Texas Port Mission Plan.
End Notes
- U.S. Census Bureau: USA Trade Online — U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade statistics. ↳