Fog impacted many ports throughout the southern United States in February, including Port Houston's public terminals. Total tonnage at Port Houston terminals is down 5% year-to-date through February.

Despite this, general cargo is up 9% year-to-date, showing strong lumber and plywood volumes, in particular. Steel imports declined 13% year-over-year in February, though year-to-date volumes remain 1% higher than the same period last year.

Containerized cargo was especially impacted by the fog, which restricts visibility and therefore the navigation of vessels along the Houston Ship Channel. This year, 14 individual days in February were impacted. In fact, fog and other weather delays contributed to a 29% reduction in availability of the channel, a sharp contrast to just 2.5% last year during the same time. Primarily due to these delays, the Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals saw 20 fewer vessels in February compared to the same month last year.

Port Houston handled 325,424 TEUs in February this year, a 13% decline year-over-year. Loaded imports fell 14%, and loaded exports declined 16% in February.

Source: Port Houston

 

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