February 2025 Commerce Club Luncheon Featuring Charlie Jenkins, CEO, Port Houston

Uniquely Houston

Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston, presented “Uniquely Houston”, an update on Port Houston’s operations while highlighting its distinctive qualities in the port industry at the Port Bureau’s February Commerce Club luncheon.

Jenkins pinpointed the Houston Ship Channel’s development as the first public/private partnership between government and community for matching funds that led to the organization uniquely collaborating for other productive initiatives in Houston over the years, such as the Port Terminal Railroad Association in 1924, Harris County Flood Control District in 1937, and the Houston Ship Channel Security District in 2009.

Port Houston facilitates vital commerce, serving as an advocate and a strategic leader of the Houston Ship Channel and managing eight public terminals. Jenkins noted the “incredible” growth of tonnage on the Houston Ship Channel, contrasting the 389,000 tons of cotton moved on the waterway in 1898 to 300 million tons today (as of 2024), comprised of 71% liquid bulk, 15% containerized cargo, 7% general cargo, 4% project cargo, and 3% dry bulk.

Record tonnage was recorded at Port Houston’s public facilities in 2024, a total of 53M in total tonnage, with 4.1M in TEUs. Port Houston manages Foreign Trade Zone 84 (“FTZ 84”), which includes many port-owned and privately owned sites located throughout Harris, Wharton, and Waller counties. FTZ 84 added nine new sites last year – another record – and it is ranked first in the U.S. for total merchandise.

An investment of $2.4 billion by Port Houston over the past five years has led to the rehabilitation of wharves and yards; added container storage space, expanded the entrance of Barbours Cut terminal, enabled the addition of 53 new Rubber Tire Gantry cranes, three new STS cranes, and accelerated work on Project 11 – the expansion of the Houston Ship Channel.

Port Houston plans to increase capacity by investing $1.9 billion on landside public facilities over the next five years.  Plans call for additional wharves at the Bayport Container Terminal, more ship-to-shore and Rubber Tire Gantry cranes, additional container yards, rehabilitation of wharves and yards, and redevelopment of general cargo and breakbulk docks.

Addressing the successful progress of Project 11, Jenkins said Port Houston’s portions are “near complete”, and the additional sections of the expansion project will be led by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Wrapping up, Jenkins said Port Houston stays active with the community. Port Houston has invested $2 million in green spaces over the past three years, awarded $1.65 million in dozens of grants to organizations since 2020, and engaged with 80,000 community members in 2024.

Jenkins was named Chief Executive Officer of Port Houston in September 2024. He oversees the advocacy and stewardship of the Houston Ship Channel, working in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for channel maintenance and improvements. Jenkins also oversees the efficient and effective operations of Port Houston’s public facilities, which handle a diverse range of imports and exports including containers, general cargo, breakbulk, and bulk commodities.

Thank you to our Commerce Club sponsors! 

Annual Table sponsors: 

Callan Marine • Chevron/Kirby • Enterprise Products Partners • Kinder Morgan • Houston Pilots • Intercontinental Terminals Company • Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. • Pemex  • Targa Resources • TGS Ceder Port Industrial Park  • WGMA 

February Table sponsors: 

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company • Houston Mooring Company  • McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. • Odfjell • Port Houston