HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Port Houston business has grown consistently and solidly across all business lines, including achieving record-breaking performances and milestones in 2017. Highlights of the record-setting business and operational results for 2017 were announced today during the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority first meeting of the year.
“We are again on our way to another tremendous year of opportunity and growth at Port Houston,” said Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria.
Port Houston facilities reached the highest total tonnage in Port history of 38.3m tons, surpassing the previous record of 37.8m tons set in 2014. It was also a record-setting year for container business. Port Houston handled 2.46 Million TEU for 2017; the previous record was set in 2016 with a volume of 2.18m TEUs (nearly a 13% increase year over year).
In his report to the commission, Executive Director Roger Guenther further detailed achievements in 2017, including a 99 percent uptime in reliability for 22 ship-to-shore cranes and extending gate hours for truckers, as well as success for its Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #84 program. (http://porthouston.com/ftz/)
With the strategic goal of providing infrastructure to meet demand, Guenther said the Port brought to substantial completion more than $200 million worth of construction contracts. Among the those projects were the completion of both Container Yard 6 North and South including gantry cranes at Bayport Container terminals. At Barbours Cut terminal, rehab work at Wharf 2 was completed and improvements were made at its east end, while three new super post-Panamax STS cranes were received.
In highlighting the achievements accomplished in 2017 and looking forward to great expectations for 2018, Guenther underscored Port Houston’s steadfast commitment to stay focused on its goals of People, Growth, Infrastructure and Stewardship.
Chairman Longoria announced the reappointment of Stephen H. DonCarlos by the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association. Commissioner DonCarlos has served since September of 2013. Port Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. http://porthouston.com/leadership/the-port-commission/
The next regular Port Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, March 27 at 9 a.m. There will be no meeting in February.
About Port Houston
For more than 100 years, the port has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals of the Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas, and the nation. It supports the creation of nearly 1.175 million jobs in Texas and 2.7 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling almost $265 billion in Texas – 16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product – and more than $617 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit Port Houston’s website at: www.porthouston.com.
