Port of Houston, Texas CEO Alec G. Dreyer said Thursday in his monthly financial report that steel imports continued to increase strongly in July. Steel tonnage was 57 percent higher in July than July of last year at 443,000 tons. For the first seven months of this year, steel tonnage increased just under 80 percent compared to the same period in 2010.
"Our outlook for steel for the balance of the year has resulted in us revising upward our projection for the full year from 3.1 million tons to at least 3.5 million tons," Dreyer said.
Year-to-date, container TEUs are up 4 percent overall. Dreyer said container volumes in August have been picking up again and are on par with last year's levels at mid-month.
Container revenue was down slightly in July, relative to last year, but is up over 10 percent on a year-to-date basis. Turning Basin revenue was up 30 percent in July and is up 31 percent for the first seven months.