Container throughput in the first seven months of 2020 is down just 3% at Houston.
Container trade through the Port of Houston is proving more resilient in the COVID-19 pandemic than at other US ports.
By the numbers box throughput was down 10% in July to 234,737 TEU, and is down 3% in the year to the end of July 2020 to 1,662,546 TEUs, compared to 1,721,402 TEUs for the same period in 2019.
Total tonnage at Port Houston for July was down 6%, with steel, breakbulk cargo and autos all down compared to July of last year, although grain and bulk cargo again showed increases in the month.
In a statement the port said it felt the impact of of COVID-19, but had two “bright spots” to report. These include two record days for truck transactions at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal in July. “Our team at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal processed more than 4,000 trucks each day, moving this cargo efficiently through our gates and into stores and homes,” Executive Director Roger Guenther said.
In another positive sign, Port Houston received one “extra loader” in July to handle peak TransPacific volumes and is expecting four more in August. Blank sailings appear to be decreasing in August as well, the port noted. “These are bright spots we are hopeful will continue,” said Guenther. Strict safety protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19 remain in place at our facilities. Port Houston places the health and safety of its workers first and thanks the men and women working on all the private and public docks, driving trucks in and out of the port, and our other maritime transportation workers, who all support the port’s daily functions.
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