GULF COAST PORTS\\\ >> 14


demand for additional on-


dock liſting capacity. The port also has invested in improving internal roads to enhance delivery of products and cargo and has expanded its outside storage capacity. Construction of the $26


million South Port Connector Road will begin in mid-2020. The new access road creates another entry and exit to/from the port and offers access to commercial lanes at Veterans International Bridge. “The road will also permit the flow of cargo and other goods related to the space industry from the port docks to the commercial launch facility operated by SpaceX, located about 5 miles south of the ship channel,” Rodriguez says. Other current projects


include the deepening of the channel from 42 to 52 feet. This project is fully permitted and set to begin construction in 2021. FTZ No. 62 at the Port


of Brownsville reported a record-setting $8.9 billion in the combined value of exports and imports for 2019. Products in the petroleum industry and shipbuilding equipment brought the most value, supported by the steady transport of steel, aluminum, and wind energy products. With domestic exports and imports valued in the billions, FTZ No. 62 continues to be a positive economic driver for communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley.


Port of Beaumont (TX)


Port of Beaumont officials report that overall tonnage between January 1-April 30, 2020, is up by 10.5%, compared to the same period last year.


Forest products,


military, and project cargo are on the rise; bagged goods and steel product are off (due primarily to a lack of space). “Liquid bulk through


our Orange County Liquid Bulk Terminal, operated by Jefferson Energy Companies, is up by 64.5% and tonnage at the Dry Bulk Terminal, operated by Kinder Morgan, is up by 4%,” reports Ernest Bezdek, director of Trade Development. “We anticipate those brisk volumes to continue through the end of the year.”


He anticipates that project


cargo will likely be challenged in coming months due to the price of oil. Ship and barge activity


are down about 12% for the January-April 2020 versus same period 2019. “There is no correlation that this decrease is due to the pandemic,” he says. “Cargo arriving/ departing via ship appear to be arriving in larger volumes per ship as compared to last year. While the vessel count is down, cargo volume is up.” In 2019, cargo volume


January-April totaled 2,724,519. Cargo volume through April 2020 totals 2,724,519, a 10.5% increase. Like many ports, Beaumont is experiencing shortages


labor and challenges.


Increased tonnage as well as the improved state of the economy over the last several years has taxed the labor pool in Southeast Texas. “We frequently have


shortages when the port is busy with numerous vessels working at the same time,” Bezdek says.


“This needs


to be addressed by our local stevedores and labor representatives.” Meanwhile, a $458 million


Capital Improvement Program for FY 2019/2020 was recently approved. Many of the 17 infrastructure projects are expected to commence in 2020. They include the Main Street Terminal 1 Dock Rebuild ($79 million), the Buford Rail Yard Interchange Track ($13 million), and the Carroll Street Overpass ($10 million). The Main Street Terminal 1 project will increase cargo handling capacity by more than 25%. The new rail track will double interchange


capacity, and


several other projects will increase storage capacity at the port.


Port of Galveston (TX)


In March and April, the Port of Galveston logged 781,766 short tons of cargo. Over the last two months cargoes have remained strong. “In the last


I’ve been inspired to


our port staff and business partners working together to keep everyone safe while focused on serving our customers,” says Rodger Rees, CEO and Port Director. “This


Issue 4 2020 - FBJNA


Ships unload project cargo at the Port of Beaumont’s Harbor Island Marine Terminal. (Port of Beaumont photo.)


pandemic also highlights the importance of our diversified business as we continue to generate port revenues and jobs for our business partners.” Comparing 2019 to 2020,


bulk fertilizer increased 45%; containerized cargo, 35%;


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fresh fruit, 18%; and grain, 9%. Wind cargo set a record for wind cargo with tonnage totaling 24,063 in March and 5,768 in April, a 184% gain over the same period last year. Ro- ro and new car tonnage have been most strongly impacted by the pandemic. In April, both were down by about one- third. BMW, which imports and processes new cars at the Port of Galveston, has


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