February 27 - The Port of Houston saw across the board increases in all areas of cargo throughput at the gateway during January 2014. More than 3 million of tonnes of cargo were handled, up 15 percent year-on-year over January 2013.
At a time when steel handling was expected to fall due to a drop in drilling activities, 400,000 tonnes of steel products were moved thought the gateway during January 2014 - up by 36 percent year-on-year. Bulk cargo tonnage surged 30 percent year-on-year to 1 million tonnes. January 2014 operating revenues passed the USD20 million mark, while overhead expenses were down 10 percent year-on year contributing USD9 million to bottom line cash flow, said the gateway.
The January 2014 numbers follow record throughput of nearly 2 million containers handled by the Port of Houston's Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals in 2013, up 6.1 percent over 2012, outpacing both the East Coast and West Coast based on JOC PIERS data, says the port authority.
Port of Houston chairman, Janiece Longoria, cited the latest US Census Bureau data showing Texas leads the nation in exports for the 12th consecutive year. The state's export revenue totaled USD279.7 billion last year, up 5.4 percent from 2012. The Port of Houston has led the state in exports during that 12-year span.
