Port of Corpus Christi sets new cargo record

Port of Corpus Christi reported that nearly 50 million tons of cargo passed through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in the second quarter of 2023, setting a record for the fifth consecutive quarter.

More specifically, the 49.7 million tons moved in the second quarter was a 7.1% increase from the same period last year and slightly higher than the prior record set in the first quarter of 2023.

The new record can be attributed to a jump in crude oil exports. The Port of Corpus Christi saw a 3.1% increase in crude oil shipments compared to the first quarter of the year.

For the first six months of 2023, the Port of Corpus Christi has handled 99.3 million tons, translating to a 10.3% growth from the same period in 2022. The leading commodities for the first half of this year are crude oil, petroleum products and dry bulk cargo.

Earlier, in July, the Port of Corpus Christi saw the completion of the second phase of the four-phase Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP), a national critical infrastructure project that will render the Corpus Christi Ship Channel the most improved in the entire US Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida.

The third phase of the project should be completed in 2023, and the fourth and final phase is out for bid and expected to be awarded by the US Army Corps of Engineers by October 2023.

“The continued growth in goods movements is testament to the strength of our Port of Corpus Christi customers and their capacity to meet the energy needs of our global trading partners and allies,” said Kent Britton, interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Port of Corpus Christi.