The Port of Houston is the largest US port by foreign waterborne cargo tonnage and the #1 gateway for chemicals, petrochemicals, steel, and energy equipment. Find who is importing what through Houston using public CBP manifest data — and build your Gulf Coast freight prospect list.
| # | Commodity Category | Volume | Top Origins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemicals & Petrochemicals | $35B+/yr | Germany, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands |
| 2 | Steel & Metal Products | $18B+/yr | Brazil, South Korea, Mexico |
| 3 | Plastics & Polymers | $12B+/yr | Saudi Arabia, Germany, Canada |
| 4 | Energy Equipment | $10B+/yr | China, Germany, South Korea |
| 5 | Agricultural Commodities | $6B+/yr | Brazil, Colombia, Mexico |
| Country | Port Share | Main Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | ~11% | Chemicals, petrochemicals, polymers |
| Germany | ~9% | Specialty chemicals, industrial equipment |
| Brazil | ~8% | Steel, iron ore, soy, coffee |
| South Korea | ~7% | Steel, petrochemical equipment, autos |
| Netherlands | ~6% | Chemicals, bulk liquids, machinery |
BASF, Dow, Lyondell, INEOS, and hundreds of mid-market chemical companies import through Houston to serve the Gulf Coast chemical corridor — the largest concentration of petrochemical manufacturing in the world. Consistent, high-volume freight accounts.
Houston is the US hub for OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods) — the steel pipe used in oil and gas drilling. Metals USA, Olympic Steel, and steel service centers import large volumes of pipe, coil, and structural steel through the port.
Oilfield services companies, drilling equipment importers, and LNG equipment manufacturers use Houston as their primary entry point. NOV, Schlumberger, Halliburton, and hundreds of smaller OFS firms import through this port consistently.
Representative records from US CBP public manifest filings at Port of Houston
| Shipper | Product | US Consignee | Vessel | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASF SE GERMANY | SPECIALTY CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS | BASF CORP USA HOUSTON | MSC MADRID | 82,400 KG |
| COMPANHIA SIDERURGICA NACIONAL | OCTG STEEL PIPE | METALS USA INC | BBC WESER | 312,000 KG |
| SABIC SAUDI ARABIA | POLYETHYLENE RESIN | LYONDELLBASELL IND | NORD GENIUS | 256,000 KG |
| SIEMENS ENERGY AG | GAS TURBINE COMPONENTS | SIEMENS ENERGY USA | HAPPY SKY | 48,000 KG |
Chemical importers at Port of Houston by product type or originOCTG steel pipe importers — "oil country tubular goods" or "steel pipe""offshore equipment" or "drilling equipment" importers through Houston"fertilizer" or "ammonia" imports from Middle East, North Africa"LNG equipment" or "compressor" imports to Houston areaThe Houston Ship Channel is home to more than 200 petrochemical facilities. Every specialty chemical, feedstock, and polymer that feeds these plants enters through this port. For chemical freight brokers, no database is more valuable than Houston manifest data.
Oil and gas, LNG, and renewable energy equipment imports make Houston the premium heavy-lift and project cargo port. Per-shipment freight values are among the highest of any US port — and the importer relationships are built on specialized expertise.
Houston is the primary entry point for OCTG and line pipe — the most regulated and highest-value steel import category. Brokers who understand OCTG documentation, tariff codes, and the distribution chain earn significantly more per load.
The Port of Houston primarily serves chemical manufacturers, petrochemical companies, energy equipment importers, steel service centers, and agricultural commodity traders. It is the most specialized major US port — heavily weighted toward B2B industrial and chemical imports.
Search by port of entry (Houston, Texas City, Freeport) combined with product category. Chemical imports at Houston are well-described in manifest records — product names, UN chemical codes, and shipper specializations are consistent.
Yes. OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods) is one of the most specifically classified steel categories in CBP data. "OCTG," "casing," "tubing," and "line pipe" all appear as distinct product descriptions. Houston handles the majority of US OCTG imports.
Yes. Offshore drilling equipment, subsea components, and oilfield services equipment arrive through Houston and appear in manifest records by product description and importer of record. Many smaller OFS importers are not on any commercial lead list — manifest data is the primary source.
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