August container volumes continue to surge at Port Houston, as do steel imports.
Total container volume in August 2022 was 382,842 teu – 20 percent more than the same month of last year and an increase of 47,476 teu over May 2022, which was previously the biggest month for container handling at the Texan port.
In total, Port Houston has handled 2,608,405 teu year-to-date, a 17 percent increase over 2021’s record numbers. With more import containers than ever before, dwell is a challenge at Port Houston’s Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals. On average import dwell has doubled and is now six days, compared to two or three in the past.
The addition of Saturday gates offers an option for importers to retrieve containers from 08:00– 17:00 every Saturday. Port officials are exploring an Excessive Dwell Fee leveraged on containers that stay at the terminal longer than the free time outlined in the tariff.
“We are asking our customers to take advantage of these additional Saturday hours of service, pull your containers quickly, and consider adapting procedures to work with us toward the common end goal of efficiency throughout the supply chain,” said Roger Guenther, executive director at Port Houston.
Total tonnage at Port Houston’s facilities is up 24 percent for the year through August. Steel imports have been particularly strong this year and are up 83 percent year to date through August.
