Category Archives: Manufacturing/Industrial

Forza Steels Strengthens Operations

Forza Steel rendering

The Port of Brownsville continues to gain strength in the steel industry as Forza Steel invests $60 million to build its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at the port. The Mexican company, which specializes in the manufacturing of carbon steel pipe, plans to install equipment in July to begin rolling mill operations. For over 20 years, Forza Steel has serviced the Mexican and U.S. steel markets from their manufacturing facility located in…

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Final Decision Looms In Building LNG Plant

An artist's rendering highlights the design of a proposed LNG plant at the Port of Brownsville. (Courtesy)

Eduardo Campirano has been the chief executive officer at the Port of Brownsville for 16 years. For the majority of those years, one grand project has rattled around as a possibility during his administration. He recalled that 12 years ago, the earliest discussions began of a liquefied natural gas plant at the port. What began as both a distant dream and remote possibility has evolved over the years to one…

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BIH Project Begins With Placement Area Improvements

Port of Brownsville BIH Project

The first step in Phase 2 of the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project is underway as the Port of Brownsville’s dredged material placement area improvement project began in early February. The BIH Channel Improvement project will deepen the 17-mile-long Brownsville ship channel from 42 to 52 feet. in February, the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to award a $13.6-million contract for the channel improvements to RLB…

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Port of Brownsville Sees Record Cargo Volumes

Break bulk commodities such as steel and wind energy components saw a 10 percent increase in 2022 at the Port of Brownsville. (photo Port of Brownsville)

Throughout 2022, more than 15.2 million tons of diverse cargo moved through the Port of Brownsville, according to unaudited cargo volume reports. This forecast represents a 10.2 percent increase from the 13.8 million tons of cargo in 2021, a new record for the Port of Brownsville. The workforce at the port has streamlined operations to move essential commodities such as break bulk like steel, aluminum and liquid bulk petroleum products.…

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Port of Brownsville Recognizes DIX Industries

DIX Industries President Lee Ostos accepts the Chairman’s Award from Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. (photo Port of Brownsville)

DIX Industries is the Port of Brownsville 2022 Chairman’s Award honoree in recognition of the company’s accomplishments throughout its 75-year history at the port. Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra presented the award to Lee Ostos, president of DIX Industries, on Dec. 8 during the annual Customer Appreciation Luncheon at the Ambassador Event Center. DIX Industries was established in 1947 by Richard Ostos at the Port of Brownsville. The family…

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Weslaco Company Reaches Global Vitamin Market

A tour of the Clever Foods & Supplements operating facility shows shiny white floors and gleaming silver equipment that’s intertwined and can churn out over 30 million vitamin gummies a month. The Clever facility is a new addition to the Mid Valley Industrial Park in Weslaco. Three executives with deep experience in manufacturing and sales are its owners and operators. They see the Mid-Valley city as an ideal location to…

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International Trade Booms At Port of Brownsville

Windmill blades are among the top commodities moving through the Port of Brownsville's Foreign Trade Zone No. 62. These colossal components are transported via vessel, barge, rail and truck to wind energy projects across North America. (photo Port of Brownsville)

Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 at the Port of Brownsville recorded an increase of 28 percent for the total value of exports in 2021. This increase amounts to the FTZ surpassing the $5-billion mark in exports for the first time. According to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s 2021 report to Congress on Aug. 29, FTZ No. 62 ranks second in the country with $5.2 billion in exported goods in 2021.…

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U.S. Grant Will Help Weslaco Expand Industrial Park

Weslaco's industrial parks are now a focal point for storing and shipping Mexican produce and other agricultural products to many U.S. markets.

Weslaco’s Mid Valley International Industrial Park is the recipient of a $1.5-million federal grant to expand opportunities for commercial, cold storage and warehousing businesses. The industrial park has seen significant growth in recent years, especially with companies involved in cold storage and shipment of produce from Mexico, as well as other agricultural commodities like cotton. The federal grant to Weslaco comes from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration. The…

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Gulf Stream Marine Receives Safety Award

The Gulf Stream Marine terminal at the Port of Brownsville has been recognized by LOGISTEC Stevedoring with its Mitchell Daudier Health and Safety Award for 2021. The recipients of this award receives the recognition for their demonstration of leadership, continuous improvement and advocacy of health and safety in the workplace. Gulf Stream Marine is one of three stevedoring companies at the Port of Brownsville. It includes a team of more than…

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Improvement Project Signing Ceremony Propels Port Forward

The Brownsville Navigation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a joint agreement on July 6 for Phase 2 of the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project. The agreement advances the project’s timeline to begin work on deepening the ship channel from 42 feet to 52 feet. This will result in significant navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas. The BIH project will further increase the…

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