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Port Houston Container Traffic Rises 1% in August as Steel Imports Spike 54%

Port Houston's public terminals handled 373,756 twenty-foot equivalent units in August, up 1% from 370,430 TEUs in the same month last year. Through eight months of 2026, container volumes reached nearly 2.97 million TEUs, also up 1% year over year. Loaded imports climbed 4% to 176,016 TEUs, while loaded exports declined 2% to 136,070 TEUs. Steel emerged as a standout performer, with imports surging 54% to 502,965 tons from 327,258 tons a year ago. Total steel tonnage increased 49% to 529,084 tons, marking the port's strongest steel month since August 2025. This represented the port's strongest steel month since August 2025. East Asia drove much of the container growth, with imports from the region up 12% and representing 57% of loaded imports. Port officials attributed increased activity to seasonal holiday demand and shippers front-loading cargo.