Freight News, Sea

Port Houston Maintains Tonnage Growth in Q3

[ October 6, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

Port Houston recorded sustained growth in August, with total tonnage across its public terminals up 5 percent, following a record-setting July.

The port’s container terminals saw 370,430 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in August, up 1 percent from the same month last year. Year-to-date container volumes reached 2.93 million TEUs, also up 5 percent over 2024.

In August, loaded import containers increased 4 percent year-over-year, while loaded export containers rose 5 percent, led by resins that continue to anchor Port Houston’s export market.

While a small portion of overall business, grain and bagged goods saw massive increases in August. Grain was up 173 percent year-over-year, reaching 212,168 short tons and imported bagged goods were up 901 percent compared to August 2024, totaling 68,358 tons. Steel imports, one of Port Houston’s linchpin cargo types, dipped 4 percent in August but remain 7 percent ahead year-to-date compared to 2024. General cargo volumes increased 10 percent year-to-date through August.

Across the Houston Ship Channel, which includes eight public terminals and more than 200 private facilities, there were 692 deep draft vessel calls in August and 5,415 arrivals year-to-date.

Casey, Harrison Join C-level

Port Houston has named veteran executives Eric Casey as chief operating officer and Parker Harrison as incoming chief legal officer, or CLO, following a nationwide search.

Casey served as executive vice president, global ports at Cold Summit Development, and held leadership roles including CEO of the Port of Wilmington, Delaware, and vice president of Virginia Intermodal Terminals. He also held director-level roles at Maersk Line, leading initiatives in operations, emerging markets and development. He succeeds long-time COO Tom Heidt, who retired earlier this year.

Harrison is experienced in maritime law, enterprise risk management and insurance. She joins Port Houston from Crowley Maritime, where she was chief legal and risk officer and corporate secretary.

Her legal and regulatory initiatives have including managing global liability claims at Shipowners’ Claims Bureau Inc. and the American Steamship Owners Mutual P&I Club. She also practiced admiralty and maritime law at Chaffe McCall, LLP. Harrison succeeds Erik Eriksson, who intends to retire.

“Their expertise and leadership reflect our commitment to investing in top-tier talent to support the continued growth and future of our port and maritime economic development,” said CEO Charlie Jenkins.

In October, Port Houston was once again the host port for Breakbulk Americas, which celebrated its 35th anniversary at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, Oct. 2-5.

Tags: Cold Summit Development, Maersk Line, Port Houston, Virginia Intermodal Termnals