IAH handled more than 540 thousand metric tons of total cargo in 2024.
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George Bush
Port of Entry
George Bush
Intercontinental
Airport [IAH]
Ports of entry within the state of Texas accounted for over $1 trillion in international trade in 2024. 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 Texas port plays a distinctive role in the state’s transportation network and contributes to the state and local economies.
IAH’s contributions to the Texas economy include:
Total trade (2024) $21.1 Billion
Direct and indirect employment 50,952
gross domestic product $5.8 Billion
About the George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Located north of Houston, IAH transports more than just travelers: cargo moves through the facility in impressive quantities, over half a million tons in 2024.
In late 2024, IAH unveiled Terminal D-West Pier, a 160,000-square-foot expansion of the existing Terminal D, increasing its international capacity.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport: All Trade, 2003-2024
Data for Export and Import Values
| Year | Exports | Imports | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $4.4 | $2.8 | $7.2 |
| 2004 | $4.5 | $3.3 | $7.8 |
| 2005 | $5.9 | $3.6 | $9.5 |
| 2006 | $7.5 | $3.9 | $11.4 |
| 2007 | $8.3 | $4.6 | $12.8 |
| 2008 | $8.5 | $5.3 | $13.8 |
| 2009 | $7.3 | $5.5 | $12.9 |
| 2010 | $8.6 | $7.8 | $16.4 |
| 2011 | $10.4 | $9.9 | $20.4 |
| 2012 | $10.0 | $8.5 | $18.5 |
| 2013 | $9.6 | $7.6 | $17.2 |
| 2014 | $10.1 | $8.7 | $18.8 |
| 2015 | $9.3 | $5.9 | $15.3 |
| 2016 | $8.8 | $5.6 | $14.4 |
| 2017 | $8.5 | $5.5 | $14.0 |
| 2018 | $8.6 | $5.6 | $14.2 |
| 2019 | $9.3 | $6.0 | $15.3 |
| 2020 | $6.5 | $3.6 | $10.1 |
| 2021 | $6.7 | $5.2 | $11.9 |
| 2022 | $8.7 | $5.7 | $14.4 |
| 2023 | $9.8 | $7.2 | $17.0 |
| 2024 | $11.4 | $9.6 | $21.1 |
Shipping activity in 2024 through this airport accounted for $21.1 billion in trade, up 192 percent from 2003 ($7.2 billion).
| George Bush Intercontinental Airport | |||
| Top Imports: | machinery and mechanical appliances, electronics, optical and photographic instruments | ||
| Top Exports: | machinery and mechanical appliances, aircraft and spacecraft equipment, electronics | ||
| Top Trading Partners: | Taiwan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil | ||
Top Export Trading Partners, 2024
Destination Data
| Country | Exports Value (in billions) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $1.2 | 11% |
| Brazil | $1.0 | 9% |
| Saudi Arabia | $0.8 | 7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $0.8 | 7% |
| Netherlands | %0.8 | 7% |
| Other | $6.8 | 60% |
| Total | $11.4 |
The United Kingdom and Brazil were the top export destinations from the IAH airport in 2024, accounting for 20 percent of exports.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau: USA Trade Online – U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade statistics; Houston Airports – Traffic and Statistics.The United Kingdom and Brazil were the top export destinations from the IAH airport in 2024, accounting for 20 percent of exports.
KELLY HANCOCK
The Port of IAH is one of 32 official Texas Ports of Entry.
See a select list of ports, plus more in-depth regional data.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.