The nation’s only deepwater seaport located on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Port of Brownsville, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its latest economic development project, a 118-acre shovel-ready business park.
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This new industrial project leverages the port’s logistical advantages to support manufacturing companies and industry clusters with a base of operations that combines access to efficient multimodal transportation and robust storage capabilities.
This development will provide a dynamic ecosystem for companies to collaborate, innovate, and flourish.
In 2022, the Port of Brownsville moved 15.2 million tons of cargo, a remarkable amount expected to increase thanks to the growing success of port tenants and customers.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most recent annual report ranking 150 maritime ports nationwide, the Port of Brownsville rose to 55th position in the country for the movement of waterborne cargo in 2021, recording 8.9 million tons of commodities transported via the port’s ship channel, representing a 30% increase from 2020’s 6.7 million tons.
Other current capital projects at the port include expansion of patios, rehabilitation of docks, and the Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project, which will deepen the Brownsville Ship Channel from its current draft of 42 to 52 feet.
The increased draft will accommodate the movement of heavier cargo resulting in major cost savings for businesses and provide navigational safety improvements for commercial shipping in South Texas.
The port continues to attract international private investments, such as Mexican company Forza Steel, currently building a state-of-the-art $60 million manufacturing facility.
Additionally, NextDecade’s multi-billion-dollar proposed project, Rio Grande LNG, has garnered attention and anticipation as the largest privately funded infrastructure project in the State of Texas. ■
A trailing cold front in connection with a low pressure system currently moving east across the Great Lakes toward New England will bring a chance of rain into the eastern U.S. on this first day of November following an exceptionally dry October for this part of the country.