texas border operations
Port of Brownsville – The economic future of the Rio Grande Valley rests on the Port of Brownsville. As the only deep-water port located on the U.S.-Mexico border, the port’s influence extends far beyond Texas.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ annual report ranks the port 50th out of 150 U.S. seaports for waterborne cargo. In 2022, the port handled 9.1 million tons of cargo, up from 8.9 million tons in 2021, moving it from 55th to 50th place.
The port hosts a variety of industries, and the port’s comprehensive logistics network, consisting of rail, trucking lines, ship and barge services, and pipeline connections, is key to the success of goods transportation.
In 2023, the port’s total cargo tonnage increased by 17% to 17.8 million tonnes, including 12.3 million tonnes of waterborne cargo and 5.5 million tonnes of non-waterborne cargo. Operating revenue also increased due to increased cargo activity. The port’s operating revenue exceeded $30 million for the fourth consecutive year and exceeded $41 million in 2023.
The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Commission’s strategic and thoughtful planning and prudent financial management protects the interests of our port tenants, users, constituents, and assets. The five-member elected commission is chartered by the State of Texas and is tasked with developing port policy and approving major spending. Members of the BND Board are elected to staggered four-year terms and meet twice monthly to manage port activities. The BND Committee is made up of Chairman Esteban Guerra, Vice-Chairman Sergio Tito López, Secretary John Wood, Assistant Secretary John Reed, and Deputy Secretary Ernesto Gutierrez. Port management is led by William Dietrich, Port Director and CEO, and Arturo Gomez, Deputy Director of Port Operations.
BND’s latest infrastructure investment, the 118-acre business park is designed to house industrial and manufacturing companies that complement existing and future port tenants and customer expansion. In April, the port held a groundbreaking ceremony for the business park’s first tenant, Westa Corporation. The agricultural company plans to invest more than $30 million to install a state-of-the-art flour mill and wheat storage silos at the Port of Brownsville. Once operational, the facility will employ 120 people.
The Brazos Island Harbor (BIH) channel improvement project is a key component of the Port’s ongoing infrastructure improvements and aims to deepen the 17-mile-long ship channel from 42 feet to 52 feet. This increase in depth will improve navigability, ensure safe navigation of ships, and reduce transit times, significantly increasing the competitiveness of the port and attracting more investment. .
The BIH project is divided into two phases and is funded through a public-private partnership (P3) involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Port of Brownsville, and NextDecade. In 2019, NextDecade announced a groundbreaking agreement with BND to fully fund Phase 1. This includes deepening the channel from the western boundary of the lease to the channel entrance, and developing two ship berths and a turning pond for the Rio Grande LNG facility. Phase 2, carried out by the Port of Brownsville and USACE, will deepen the channel from the diversion basin area to the Rio Grande LNG site. In March 2022, the federal government allocated $68 million for Phase 2 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act appropriations law. In August, USACE signed a $104 million contract with Callan Marine Ltd. for Phase 2 of the BIH project. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2024 and be completed by summer 2026.
Deepening the Brownsville Channel is a monumental project that puts the Port of Brownsville on a strong trajectory for the future. This investment will ensure the port continues to play a vital role in global supply chains and supports the sustainable growth of diverse industries.
Working towards a brighter future
The Port of Brownsville’s efficient operations are powered by its employees. The Port of Brownsville proudly supports educational initiatives and training opportunities to ensure the development of critical skill sets for our employees.
In April, BND joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott and leaders from the Texas A&M University System to break ground on a new 30,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing training facility at the Port of Brownsville. The center offers programs offered by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
The new $30 million Texas A&M Rio Grande Valley Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub (RAMI) facility at the port is expected to be completed in mid-2026. Established in 2021 with funding from the Texas Legislature, the RAMI Hub aims to advance advanced manufacturing skills in the Rio Grande Valley, prepare residents for technical careers, and boost the local economy. That’s what I mean.
The Port of Brownsville is playing an important role in Texas’ energy landscape with the construction of NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG facility. If fully developed, Rio Grande LNG would be the largest privately funded project in Texas, with the capacity to provide enough energy to heat and cool the equivalent of approximately 34 million U.S. homes annually.
The project is consistent with the Port’s goals of economic development and job creation, and is expected to create more than 5,000 local construction jobs during peak construction. Bechtel Energy, the construction company contracted to build the Rio Grande LNG facility, is on schedule to complete Phase 1 of the project, which includes three liquefaction trains, two storage tanks, two loading piers, and other infrastructure. . As of June, the company reported an overall project completion rate of 24 percent for Trains 1 and 2 and a 7.8 percent completion rate for the Train 3 project.
The Glenfern Texas LNG project is a 4 ton/year LNG export terminal to be constructed at the Port of Brownsville. The company has made final investment decisions and announced significant offtake agreements and projects to begin construction in 2024.
The Port of Brownsville continues to be a leader in the transportation of wind energy components thanks to its logistics capabilities and strategic location along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The port excels in supporting the wind energy sector by handling large components such as the largest wind turbine blades imported into the United States. Its specialized equipment and skilled workforce efficiently manage these parts for shipment by ship, barge, rail, or truck. This capability establishes the Port of Brownsville as a leader in serving the renewable energy industry, allowing the flow of cargo and other goods related to the space industry from the port’s docks to SpaceX’s adjacent facility, Starbase. is promoted.
To accommodate increased cargo volumes, the Port of Brownsville expanded patios and holding areas to safely store the project’s cargo and wind energy components.
Source: Port of Brownsville