Texas Gulf Coast ports delivered record-breaking cargo performance during the first half of 2026, with both Port Houston and the Port of Corpus Christi reporting historic volumes despite an increasingly uncertain global trade environment shaped by tariff pressures. The region's rise as a critical export gateway has been accelerating since the December 2015 lifting of the decades-long U.S. crude oil export ban, which positioned Gulf Coast facilities at the center of American energy shipments to global markets.

Port Houston Sets First-Half Container Record

Port Houston handled 389,962 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in June, an 18% year-over-year increase. First-half container volumes climbed to a record 2.23 million TEUs — the highest six-month total in the port's history.

"Our region is resilient and our port is ready to handle the diverse cargo needs," Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins said in a news release. "Overall, we are well-positioned for long-term growth and continued global competitiveness."

June's gains were driven by a 27% surge in loaded import containers to 177,097 TEUs. Total container traffic rose 18% year over year. Loaded export containers dipped 2% for the month but remained essentially flat through the first six months of 2026.

Steel cargo rebounded in June, with steel imports climbing 40% to 406,452 tons and total steel tonnage rising 46% year over year. Despite the monthly gain, steel cargo remains down 14% year to date compared to 2025.

General cargo continued to outperform, increasing 55% in June and 34% through the first half. Overall tonnage at Port Houston's public terminals reached 4.68 million tons in June, up 4% from a year earlier. First-half tonnage totaled 28.2 million tons, a 3% increase.

The broader Houston Ship Channel region also benefited from robust export activity. Through May, regional trade tonnage grew 17%, fueled by a 23% rise in exports, while import tonnage declined 4%. Crude oil and refined products together accounted for more than half of all cargo moving through the ship channel.

Port of Corpus Christi Records Strongest First Half

The Port of Corpus Christi — the largest U.S. crude oil export port by volume — posted its strongest second quarter and first half on record. Customers moved 55.8 million tons of commodities during the second quarter, surpassing the previous quarterly record set earlier in the year.

Through June, total cargo volumes reached 110.3 million tons, a 7.7% increase over the first-half record established in 2025. June cargo alone totaled 16.67 million tons, compared with 17.24 million tons during the same month a year earlier. Year-to-date volumes nonetheless continued to set records, supported by strong petroleum, crude oil, and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Multiple commodity sectors contributed to Corpus Christi's growth during the first half of 2026:

• LNG volumes rose 36.3% to 11.5 million tons, consistent with the broader expansion of Gulf Coast export capacity that has made the United States the world's largest LNG supplier.
• Agricultural commodities surged to 2.1 million tons, up from approximately 189,000 tons a year earlier.
• Refined products increased 8.9% to 17.1 million tons.
• Other bulk liquids climbed 11.7% to 8.2 million tons.
• Natural gas liquids increased 18.4%.
• Crude oil shipments reached 66 million tons, up 1.3% year over year.

"The continued growth in multiple commodities reflects the significant advantages gained by completion of the ship channel improvement project last year," Port of Corpus Christi CEO Kent Britton said in a news release. The project deepened the channel to 54 feet and widened it, enabling the port to accommodate larger vessels — including more fully loaded Very Large Crude Carriers — and increasing throughput efficiency for energy exports to global destinations.

June's cargo reports indicate that Texas Gulf Coast ports continue to benefit from two complementary growth drivers: containerized imports and exports flowing through Houston, and booming U.S. energy exports moving through Corpus Christi. Together, they offer a positive signal for freight markets and international trade despite ongoing tariff uncertainty. The first-half figures establish a baseline for tracking how evolving trade policies may affect Gulf Coast cargo flows through the remainder of the year.