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. Project cargo movement includes wind energy and space industry components, and dry bulk includes grains, aggregates, pet coke and cement.

Break bulk commodities such as steel and wind energy components saw a 10 percent increase in 2022 with more than 4.7 million tons of cargo moving through the port. This is up from 2021’s 4.3 million tons. Liquid cargo volumes remained steady while loads of dry commodities lightened.

In 2022, port railcar movements continued an upward trend with an all-time record-breaking 72,616 movements, a 10.2 percent increase from the previous year. The port also saw approximately 438,000 truck movements and 1,757 vessel calls.

A Supply Chain Leader

The port’s global reach is also evident in Foreign Trade Zone No. 62’s ranking as second in the nation for the value of exports.

The U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s 2021 report to Congress placed FTZ No. 62 second in the U.S. with more than $5.2 billion in exported goods in 2021. This is an increase from the $4.1 billion reported in 2020.

The port’s FTZ has consistently ranked in the top three for exports out of 193 FTZs nationwide since 2012. Additionally, FTZ No. 62 ranks 20th in the nation for the value of imports totaling $4.5 billion.

Cargo tonnage and value of exports and imports are expected to increase as the port’s Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project progresses.