Port is Multi-Billion-Dollar Contributor to GDP

Enhanced infrastructure and relatively stable industrial real estate drove the port’s ranking up.

HOUSTON—The port of Houston’s $265 billion in supported economic activity or approximately 16.1% of the entire Texas GDP, is likely the primary reason why it receives significant coverage in both regional and national analyses, says CBRE. Despite the recent shock in energy prices, which often overshadows positive headlines, the port managed to demonstrate strong growth numbers in 2015. In fact, coupled with volume growth of 9.2% in 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2015, enhanced port infrastructure and relatively stable industrial real estate fundamentals drove the port’s ranking up five spots to fifth place in CBRE’s 2016 North America Seaports and Logistics Index this year.​

Billy Gold, senior vice president for CBRE industrial services in Houston, tells GlobeSt.com: “The port of Houston’s significant investments to its infrastructure and container terminals will ensure the port can accommodate the present and future logistics needs that are being generated by a diverse group of industries such agricultural exports, and food and consumer imports. These demands, coupled with the growth of the petrochemical sector and the ongoing needs of the energy industry, prove that the port of Houston continues to be an integral part of companies’ logistics and supply chain management plan.”