Port Of Corpus Christi Announces Record First Quarter
The Port of Corpus Christi announced April 15 that it experienced a record first quarter for 2026, surpassing its previous record quarter of 2024. The port reported a performance of 54 million tons in the fourth quarter of 2024, an achievement now surpassed by this quarter’s 54.5 million tons, an increase from last year’s first quarter by 6.1 percent or 3.2 miT
The port attributes the increase to growth in liquified natural gas (LNG) movement, up 1.5 million tons, or 33 percent, of LNG shipments compared to the first quarter in 2025. The Port also announced increases in both agricultural exports and refined products/bulk liquids of 1.4 million tons, as well as dry bulk by 0.5 million tons with a 21 percent surge in imports of iron ore, cement and barite.
March, specifically, was a point of success for the Port. Compared to 2025, Corpus Christi saw a 10.4 percent increase of commodity movement last month. Monthly volumes also increased from 16.6 million tons in February, and annual growth saw a 2.1 percent increase in crude oil, 11.4 percent increase in refined products and 36.8 percent increase in LNG.
While the port disclosed a 5 percent decrease in crude oil shipments, it can still celebrate its success. Though a decline, crude oil shipments have bettered since the conflict in Iran erupted, which the port credited to previous high domestic refinery usage and export freight rates. Exports of crude oil surpassed 2.4 million barrels per day in March, a sum Corpus Christi said was the highest monthly amount in the market.
“The dramatically higher shipment levels seen since the start of the conflict in Iran are a testament to our customers’ ability to maximize their operations and quickly respond to changing market conditions,” said Kent Britton, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. “It’s also a reflection of the significant investment made by the port over the past decade, in excess of $1 billion, to improve and modernize our facilities to promote the safe and efficient movement of cargoes through the waterway and is further evidence of this region’s importance in the global energy supply chain.”
