Crowley, a global leader in logistics, marine and energy solutions, has announced a new weekly container service connecting Port Houston with Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala, and Puerto Cortés, Honduras — two of Central America's largest and fastest-growing trade gateways. Santo Tomás de Castilla is Guatemala's main Caribbean port, while Puerto Cortés serves as Honduras' principal seaport.

The Gulf-Central America Express Service will make its first Houston call on Sept. 10, with Thursday departures thereafter. Crowley's vessels will carry dry and refrigerated containers that safely transport a range of fresh produce, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods from sea to land. The range of equipment includes 53-foot containers that maximize intermodal efficiency in these markets. The 53-foot format is standard in North American domestic trucking and rail but uncommon in international ocean trades, positioning cargo for direct handoff into inland U.S. distribution.

The new route arrives as regional trade accelerates. Central American exports to the United States grew 15.7% in year-over-year shipments in early 2026, driven largely by demand for fresh produce, according to the Inter-American Development Bank. Trade between the region and the United States is anchored by CAFTA-DR, the free trade agreement in force since the mid-2000s that links the U.S. market with Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic — the latter also part of Crowley's regional network.

"A direct Houston connection provides a reliable, efficient logistics solution for U.S.-Central American supply chains," said Claudia Kattan, vice president for Central America, Mexico and Panama at Crowley. "Shippers get faster transits, improved inventory planning and the flexibility to move fresh produce, consumer goods and other time-sensitive cargo without the delays of transshipments."

Port Houston is home to one of the nation's top five and fastest-growing container ports, commanding approximately 75% of U.S. Gulf container volume. The port's scale and inland connectivity give Central American exporters direct access to Texas, Midwest and West Coast markets, strengthening supply chain reliability for U.S. retailers. The port operates the public Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals, with inland reach through Class I railroads and interstate highway links.

"We are proud to welcome Crowley's Gulf-Central America Express Service to Port Houston," said John Moseley, chief commercial officer for Port Houston. "This new weekly call gives shippers a direct, reliable connection to Houston and two important Central American gateways, expanding choice for customers moving refrigerated and dry cargo through Houston."

Beyond providing another option for shippers, the service will connect Houston more directly to the food, products and commercial activity moving between Central America and the United States. For refrigerated cargo, where transit time directly affects shelf life, fixed-day weekly departures are a core planning variable for produce shippers.

"The impact of this service will extend well beyond the docks," said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. "It creates a more direct path for fresh produce and everyday goods to reach stores and families across our region, while helping Texas businesses connect with customers in Central America. That is what growth at Port Houston does: create opportunity and make the supply chains people rely on work better."

Crowley's expansion builds on the company's long-standing presence in the Caribbean and Central America, where it has maintained an integrated inland logistics network for more than 65 years. The Jacksonville, Florida-based company was founded in 1892. By combining ocean transportation with warehousing and inland services through a single provider, businesses can reduce handoffs and improve supply chain visibility — a key advantage for retailers efficiently managing product inventory and shelf-life cycles.

Purpose-built to support the dynamic needs of customers, Crowley's container vessels offer space for dry, refrigerated and project cargo, including 40- and 45-foot dry and refrigerated containers, 53-foot dry containers, and 20- and 40-foot flat-rack equipment. The Crowley network of terminals, warehousing and supply chain solutions unites U.S., Central American and Caribbean ports such as the Dominican Republic.

Source: Crowley, via Hellenic Shipping News