On its 89th anniversary, the Port of Brownsville is proud to announce its vault to 41st position in the ranking of 150 U.S. maritime ports for waterborne cargo tonnage.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most recent annual report, in 2023, the port’s waterways handled more than 11.2 million tons of cargo, a 23 percent increase from 2022’s 9.1 million tons, launching the port from 50th position to 41st in the nation. This latest ranking signifies the port’s highest placement to date.
“This is a significant achievement for the port and our entire community. It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff, our stakeholders, and my fellow board members,” said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. “We’ve made great strides and there’s more to come in advancing our region’s economic vitality”.
A forty-six percent increase in vessel traffic at the port recorded 2,561 vessel calls in 2023, up from 1,754 the previous year. Major commodities driving growth at the port include steel, liquid bulk products, aggregates, and project cargo.
Strategically located on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Port of Brownsville is a critical gateway for international trade. Major infrastructure improvements are underway to strengthen the port’s ability to drive regional economic development. The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project to deepen the port’s 17-mile-long Brownsville Ship Channel from its current 42 to 52 feet deep to accommodate large vessels and improve navigational safety is slated for completion in 2026.
Additionally, sizeable private investments are transforming the port’s landscape. Notably, Rio Grande LNG’s 984-acre facility, the largest privately funded project in Texas, has generated thousands of jobs for the region and contributed millions of dollars in economic impact throughout the communities of the Rio Grande Valley.
About the Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is the only deep-water seaport directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and encompasses 40,000 acres – the largest land-owning public port authority in the country.
The port transships more steel into Mexico than any other U.S. port and is home to premier energy, shipbuilding, and ship recycling industries. It ranks No. 41 among the Top 150 U.S. maritime ports for waterborne cargo, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
As the major multimodal transportation hub serving the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico, the Port of Brownsville supports investment opportunities and jobs. Activity at the port is responsible for adding more than $1 billion to the Rio Grande Valley regional economy and more than $12 billion to the Texas economy, and the creation of more than 66,000 jobs statewide.