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Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Export and Import Values, Port Houston, 2003-2024 (in billions)
Exhibit 4
Share of Exports from Port Houston to Destination Country, 2024
Exhibit 5
Share of Imports to Port Houston by Country of Origin, 2024
Exhibit 6
Port of Entry: HoustonImpact 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, traveled across the state’s seaports, with Port Houston accounting for 52 percent of seaport trade, or $223.5 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 Houston in 2024 affected 1.3 million net jobs and contributed $171 billion to Texas’ gross domestic product (GDP) (Exhibit 1).2
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total direct trade value | $223.5 billion |
| Gross domestic product | $171.1 billion |
| Total employment | 1,319,413 |
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 Houston Trade
Port Houston is one of 23 seaports along Texas’ 367-mile Gulf Coast. Total trade through Port Houston was $223.5 billion in 2024, up 42 percent from 2019 levels. Port Houston was a net exporter by trade value in 2024, seeing $129.9 billion in exports and $93.7 billion in imports (Exhibit 2).
Data for Exhibit 2
| Year | Imports | Exports | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $22.6 | $27.3 | $49.9 |
| 2004 | $29.5 | $36.6 | $66.1 |
| 2005 | $34.9 | $51.3 | $86.2 |
| 2006 | $41.9 | $61.1 | $103.0 |
| 2007 | $53.8 | $61.1 | $114.9 |
| 2008 | $68.8 | $79.0 | $147.8 |
| 2009 | $57.7 | $48.5 | $106.2 |
| 2010 | $70.7 | $60.3 | $131.0 |
| 2011 | $88.7 | $80.5 | $169.1 |
| 2012 | $93.2 | $83.4 | $176.6 |
| 2013 | $94.2 | $74.4 | $168.5 |
| 2014 | $92.0 | $75.2 | $167.2 |
| 2015 | $76.8 | $59.8 | $136.6 |
| 2016 | $63.0 | $49.7 | $112.7 |
| 2017 | $71.8 | $59.9 | $131.6 |
| 2018 | $89.4 | $69.5 | $158.9 |
| 2019 | $92.5 | $64.5 | $156.9 |
| 2020 | $73.3 | $52.4 | $125.7 |
| 2021 | $95.2 | $75.7 | $170.9 |
| 2022 | $136.0 | $109.6 | $245.6 |
| 2023 | $125.3 | $102.9 | $228.1 |
| 2024 | $129.9 | $93.7 | $223.5 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
The top export commodities by value from Port Houston in 2024 were mineral fuels ($75.3 billion), followed by organic chemicals ($12.6 billion) and plastics ($12.3 billion). These commodities accounted for 77 percent of the port’s total exports. Top imports to the port included mineral fuels ($14.5 billion), machinery and mechanical appliances ($12.8 billion), and electrical machinery and equipment ($12.8 billion) (Exhibit 3).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
Commodity Value (in millions)
Mineral Fuels $75,284.6
Organic Chemicals $12,577.6
Plastics $12,330.4
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances $6,891.8
Miscellaneous Chemical Products $3,631.1
Total All Commodities $129,861.3
Commodity Import Value (in millions)
Mineral Fuels $14,479.9
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances $12,824.8
Electrical Machinery and Equipment $12,781.8
Articles of Iron or Steel $7,424.0
Organic Chemicals $4,819.1
Total All Commodities $93,672.6
The value of exports from Port Houston to its top five recipient countries was $47 billion in 2024, or 36.2 percent of its total. The Netherlands was the leading destination for exported goods, receiving 10 percent of all exported commodities from the port (Exhibit 4).
Share of Exports from Port Houston to Destination Country, 2024
Data for Exhibit 4
| Country | Exports Value (in billions) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $12.9 | 10% |
| Mexico | $10.8 | 8% |
| China | $8.8 | 7% |
| Brazil | $7.5 | 6% |
| Japan | $7.0 | 5% |
| Other | $82.9 | 64% |
| Total | $129.9 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
Port Houston’s top five import trading partners accounted for 41.8 percent of its $93.7 billion in imports in 2024, with China comprising nearly a fifth of all imports (Exhibit 5).
Share of Imports to Port Houston by Country of Origin, 2024
Data for Exhibit 5
| Country | Imports Value (in billions) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $16.7 | 18% |
| Germany | $6.0 | 6% |
| Korea, South | $5.9 | 6% |
| India | $5.3 | 6% |
| Vietnam | $4.4 | 5% |
| Other | $55.5 | 59% |
| Total | $93.9 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Economic Indicators Division, USA Trade Online.
Port Houston – Capital Improvement Projects
Port Houston underwent several capital improvement projects in 2024, with total project costs of $547.9 million (Exhibit 6). Projects included the deepening and widening of the Houston Ship Channel, a waterway that connects the U.S.’ largest petrochemical complex to the world and sees the most deep-draft ship visits among all U.S. ports.3
| Project | Cost (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Houston Ship Channel Deepening and Widening | $187.4 |
| Wharf Construction and Rehabilitations | $121.9 |
| RTG Cranes | $59.6 |
| New Terminal Maintenance Facility | $25.1 |
| Terminal Deepening and Widening | $16.7 |
| New Executive Building | $14.3 |
| Machinery and Equipment | $7.2 |
| Other Miscellaneous Capital Projects | $67.7 |
| Total Major Construction Project Costs | $547.9 |
Source: Port Houston.
Endnotes
- U.S. Census Bureau: USA Trade Online – U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade statistics. ↳
- Data received from Port Houston. ↳
- Port Houston, “Project Overview – Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project 11,” ↳