Houston, TX; Global Trader

Though the Houston economy is mostly energy driven, there are indications that the region is fast becoming a global trader. The reason? The Port of Houston is making waves on the trading front. According to a recent report from CBRE, approximately 170 million tons of cargo was traded through the Port of Houston (POH) in 2017, which earned it first place in the U.S. when it came to foreign waterborne tonnage.

The good news: NAFTA’s impact on Houston’s global trade has been hugely beneficial. Exports from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada outpaced imports from both countries by $76 billion in 2017. Now for the not-so-good news: Concerns around tariffs. That, combined with the specter of NAFTA renegotiations, could cause what CBRE analysts dubbed a “ripple effect to the $18.8 billion in goods moving between Houston and China annually.”

The Connect Industrial conference will take place July 11. For more information, or to register, log on here.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Amy Sorter