Port Houston was featured at the East End Chamber of Commerce’s Steel Forum Dec. 11.  The event focused on the steel trade and its impact to the economy. Chief Commercial Officer John Moseley and steel experts with JSW Steel, the American Institute for International Steel and Triple-S Steel Supply Chain Co. served on a panel.

Steel is one of the biggest components in cars, trucks and trains. “Port Houston is the no. 1 port in the United States for foreign waterborne tonnage in part due to products like steel,” said Margaret Kidd, panel moderator and program director for supply chain and logistics technology at the University of Houston.

JSW Steel is the fastest growing steel company in the U.S. with its platemill complex in Baytown. “We have set a standard in Texas,” said John Hritz, president and CEO of JSW Steel, who noted the company imports slab steel through Port Houston.

“Houston is by far the largest steel receiving port in the U.S.,” said John Foster, chairman of the American Institute for International Steel. Panelists all shared that the capacity of steel has increased, and that industry must adjust.

This year, Port Houston has handled more than 3.7 million tons of steel through the end of October, Moseley said. Port Houston also manages one of the busiest foreign trade zones in the country. “We are a very diverse port with a balanced mix of trade lanes,” he added.

The event was held at the Federal Reserve Bank.

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As Port Houston closes out another year, port facilities continue to deliver solid results. Executive Director Roger Guenther reported that main drivers of the port’s growth include containers and steel imports.

“Steel volumes continue to trend upward, totaling 3.4 million tons, reflecting a 57 percent increase compared to the same period last year,” remarked Guenther at a public meeting Dec. 12.

“We expect to pass the 2.4 million TEU container mark by the end of this year,” Guenther added. He noted this milestone achievement for the port considering challenges including loss of time and labor hours due to the impact of Hurricane Harvey.

It was only two years ago that the port eclipsed the two million container TEU mark.

Through November, port terminals have handled nearly 35 million tons of cargo versus 32 million tons for the same time period last year, which is a 9 percent increase over 2016.

“Our financial results are solidly in line as well with the operational performance of our Port facilities,” Guenther said.

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Port Houston hosted a Steel Roundtable event with over 40 participants, including steel traders, manufacturers and other industry partners Sept. 28 at the port’s executive building.

Port Houston’s Senior Director of Trade Development John Moseley provided opening remarks to the crowd. Director of General Cargo Facilities Randy Stiefel, provided an update on current port breakbulk and project cargo-related projects, port capital improvement projects and the status of the port after Hurricane Harvey.

Steel is an important commodity segment for the U.S., and the port has seen an increase of 40 percent of steel cargo volume this year. John Foster, chairman of the American Institute of International Steel, and Richard Chriss, president of the Institute, reported that imported steel and iron supports 1.3 million jobs in the U.S. and contributes $239.8 billion to the U.S. economy.

Port Houston handled 2.23 million tons of steel in 2016.  

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