US’ Largest Port Sees 52 Million Tons of Cargo Moved in July-Sep Period
By Simon West
The Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, the largest US port in total revenue tonnage, said its customers had moved more than 50 million tons of goods through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in the July to September period, an all-time high for a single quarter.
It was also the sixth consecutive quarter that a new record had been set, the port said.
A total of 52 million tons were transported through the strategic gateway, up by 7.7 percent compared with the year-ago period and 4.5 percent higher than the previous record volumes reached in the second quarter.
The port attributed the rise primarily to a 4.4 percent quarter on quarter jump in crude oil exports to 32.4 million tons, as well as slightly higher volumes in liquified natural gas (LNG), petroleum products and agricultural commodities.
In the first nine months of the year, Corpus Christi customers moved 151.3 million tons through the channel, a 9.4 percent year on year rise driven by crude oil, refined products, and LNG cargoes.
“This milestone is a testament to the strength of our customers in meeting the continued strong demands of the global energy market,” said Kent Britton, Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Corpus Christi. “Our team at the Port of Corpus Christi remains committed to the maintenance and expansion of waterway infrastructure to position our customers for continued success,” added Britton, who took charge of the port in September.
The Port of Corpus Christi, whose slogan is “moving America’s energy”, announced in September that the US$682 million Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project, or CIP, had entered into its last phase.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had awarded the CIP’s fourth and final contract to Callan Marine, the port said, with completion of this phase slated for early 2025.
The CIP, which the port said would render the ship channel the “most improved waterway along the U.S. Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida”, is increasing the depth of the channel from 47 feet to 54 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) and widening it to 530 feet.
The project is also calling for an additional 400 feet of barge shelves to be built, allowing for two-way traffic of both vessels and barges in tandem.
The Port of Corpus Christi is a regular exhibitor at Breakbulk Americas.
