More than 4.1 million TEU crossed Port Houston's quays in 2024, an 8% jump and a record for the Gulf's busiest container gateway. Two terminals carry that traffic: Bayport, the newer and larger facility on the channel's west side with 18 ship-to-shore cranes, and Barbours Cut near the entrance, which handles containers alongside ro-ro cargo. The wider Houston Ship Channel — over 200 private and eight public terminals — makes this the largest US port by waterborne tonnage, dominated by crude oil, chemicals and plastics from the surrounding petrochemical cluster. Breakbulk, heavy-lift and project cargo move through the Turning Basin Terminal and its 37 docks, the region's biggest such facility. BNSF and Union Pacific provide rail links inland, while customs clears through US CBP. Port Houston completed its portion of the Project 11 channel deepening and widening in October 2025, and Bayport can now handle vessels of up to 17,000 TEU. Shippers weigh New Orleans, Mobile, or the East Coast's Savannah and Charleston as alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE of Houston?▼
The UN/LOCODE of Houston is US HOU. This international code identifies ports and logistics locations worldwide.
Where is the port of Houston located?▼
The port of Houston is located in United States (Gulf of Mexico; North Atlantic Ocean).
What is the size of the port Houston?▼
Houston is a Large harbor of type River (Tide Gates).
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