Houston Port Container Traffic Dips in April, May Recovery Underway

Key Details Port Houston handled 353,319 TEUs in April, representing a 10% decline from March and 9% decrease year-over-year. This marks the port's first quarterly container decline since early 2025, driven by global trade volatility and reduced steel imports. However, port leadership expects momentum to return in May as import activity rebounds. Why It Matters Despite the April slowdown, Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins emphasized strong vessel traffic with 754 ship visits last month, up 6% compared to April 2024. The port continues to see consistent volume increases month-over-month, signaling underlying operational strength for drivers and logistics partners. Export Growth Continues Export tonnage is up 19% year-to-date, with energy commodities leading the way. Houston remains the world's top gateway for liquefied petroleum gases like propane and butane, with those exports climbing 33%. Larger vessels moving through the Houston Ship Channel are driving this export surge. Big Picture Year-to-date container volumes total 1.44 million TEUs, down just 1% versus 2024. Overall tonnage remains up 3% with 18.5 million tons processed through April. Port officials view April's dip as temporary normalization after a strong first quarter rather than a warning sign for sustained decline.