Port Houston container volumes edge higher as steel imports surge 54%

Port Houston’s container volumes edged higher in August as loaded imports continued to grow and steel imports surged more than 50% from a year ago. The port’s public terminals handled 373,756 twenty-foot equivalent units in August, a 1% increase from 370,430 TEUs during the same month last year.

Through the first eight months of 2026, container volumes totaled nearly 2. 97 million TEUs, also up 1% year over year. Loaded imports totaled 176,016 TEUs during August, increasing 4% from 169,631 TEUs a year earlier. Loaded exports slipped 2% to 136,070 TEUs. Year to date, loaded imports increased 5% to nearly 1.

39 million TEUs, while loaded exports declined 1% to about 1. 06 million TEUs. Overall loaded container activity was up 2% through August to 2. 45 million TEUs. Port Houston said machinery and electronics, retail consumer goods, furniture, automotive products and apparel were among the commodities contributing to higher loaded imports.

The port attributed some of the activity to seasonal demand and businesses front-loading cargo ahead of the holiday season. East Asia remained the primary source of the growth, with imports from the region increasing 12% and accounting for 57% of Port Houston’s loaded container imports. Steel was one of Port Houston’s strongest cargo segments during August.

Steel imports reached 502,965 tons, a 54% increase from 327,258 tons in August 2025. Total steel tonnage, including imports and exports, climbed 49% to 529,084 tons, making August the port’s strongest steel month since August 2025. Despite the monthly surge, steel volumes remained below last year’s levels on a year-to-date basis.

Total steel tonnage through August was approximately 2. 87 million tons, down 10%, while steel imports were down 11% at 2. 71 million tons General cargo moved in the opposite direction during the month, falling 26% year over year to 116,881 tons. However, general cargo remained up 22% year to date at 913,863 tons, including a 27% increase in imports.

Total revenue tonnage across Port Houston’s public facilities was essentially flat compared with August 2025 at approximately 4. 68 million tons. Through August, total tonnage stood at roughly 37. 49 million tons, also virtually unchanged year over year. Vessel activity across the broader Houston Ship Channel increased during August.

Deep-draft transits rose 9% year over year to 1,607, while barge transits increased 10% to 19,712. Both categories were up 7% year to date. The August numbers were presented as Port Houston commissioners met Sept. 22 to consider infrastructure, Houston Ship Channel and trade-development initiatives.

Commissioners approved additional design work for refrigerated container infrastructure at the future Bayport Container Yard 9. Once built and fully equipped, the yard is expected to accommodate more than 1,800 refrigerated containers, providing additional capacity for temperature-controlled imports and exports.

Port Houston said it has completed 10 new Foreign Trade Zone site authorizations so far this year, matching its annual record set in 2024, with another 11 applications under review. The port also recently welcomed the first vessel in Crowley Maritime’s new weekly container service connecting Houston with Central America.

Why it matters: Houston’s August results show import demand holding up heading into the fall shipping season, while investments in refrigerated container capacity and the Houston Ship Channel position the gateway for longer-term freight growth. The post Port Houston container volumes edge higher as steel imports surge 54% appeared first on FreightWaves.