Port Of Corpus Christi Sets Quarterly, First-Half Cargo Records

Port of Corpus Christi customers moved a record 55.8 million tons of cargo through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel during the second quarter of 2026, surpassing the previous quarterly record of 54.5 million tons set during the first quarter of this year.

The first six months of 2026 also represented the strongest first half in the port’s history. Customers moved 110.3 million tons through the ship channel, an increase of 7.7% from the previous first-half record of 102.4 million tons set during the same period in 2025.

Growth during the first half of the year was spread across several commodity categories. Liquefied natural gas volumes increased 36.3% to 11.5 million tons, while agricultural commodity volumes reached 2.1 million tons, compared with 189,000 tons during the first half of 2025.

Refined product volumes increased 8.9% to 17.1 million tons. Other bulk liquids rose 11.7% to 8.2 million tons, while natural gas liquids increased 18.4% to 914,606 tons.

Crude oil shipments remained the port’s largest commodity category, totaling 66 million tons during the first half of 2026. That represented a 1.28% increase from the same period last year.

Those gains were partially offset by declines in dry bulk and breakbulk cargoes. Dry bulk volumes decreased 7.3% to 4.2 million tons, while breakbulk cargo declined 3.5% to 191,457 tons.

“Delivering the strongest quarter and first half in our history reflects the continued confidence our customers place in the Port of Corpus Christi and the world-class infrastructure that supports their operations,” said Kent Britton, chief executive officer of the Port of Corpus Christi.

“The continued growth in multiple commodities reflects the significant advantages gained by completion of the ship channel improvement project last year and demonstrates the port’s critical role in connecting U.S. products to global markets.”