In the first nine months of 2018, the Port of Corpus Christi reached a new milestone, setting a new tonnage record of 79.3 million tons. This surpasses the previous record of 77.9 million tons set in the first nine months of 2015, while also eclipsing the same period in 2017 by 4 million tons, an increase of 5% year-over-year.
Namely, the Port’s volume growth in 2018 was driven by increases of crude oil (+11%), other petroleum products (+8%), and breakbulk shipments (+3%). The news comes despite the ongoing trade war between the US and China, which has created a halt of US seaborne exports of crude oil to China.
This tonnage record…is indicative of the continued growth we have been experiencing in the energy sector. Our bullish outlook of success is reinforced by this achievement and we look forward to continuing our investments alongside those of our customers as Texas and the United States continues its trend as a strategic global provider of energy,
…said Sean Strawbridge, Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Corpus Christi.
The increasing tonnage substantiates the Port of Corpus Christi’s call for the US Army Corps of Engineers to move swiftly in the execution of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP), which includes dredging the ship channel from 47 feet to 54 feet and widening it to 530 feet, to accommodate larger vessels and allow for safer and more efficient traffic flows.
The record-setting tonnage supports the critical need for continued investment in infrastructure. The Port of Corpus Christi takes pride in ushering in these developments in an environmentally responsible manner. This Channel Improvement Project absolutely will benefit the economy of the Coastal Bend, Texas, and the United States,
…said Charles W. Zahn, Jr., Port of Corpus Christi Commission Chairman.
