In 2018, the Port of Port Arthur handled more than 48 billion tons of cargo.
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Port of Port Arthur: All Trade
Port of Entry
Port of Port Arthur
Ports of entry within the state of Texas accounted for nearly $740 billion in international trade in 2018. Texas has 29 official ports of entry that serve as critical gateways to global trade. Each port, whether an airport, land port or seaport, serves many domestic and international economic activities across multiple industries. Each Texas port plays a distinctive role in the state’s transportation network and contributes to the state and local economies.
Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Port of Port Arthur’s contributions to the Texas economy include:
Total trade (2018) $22.9 Billion
Direct and indirect employment 102,100
gross domestic product $15.4 Billion
Sources: REMI, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
About the Port of Port Arthur
The Port of Port Arthur is one of 10 seaports along Texas’ 367-mile Gulf of Mexico coastline. It is part of the Port Arthur Customs District, which includes the ports of Orange, Beaumont and Sabine. The Port of Port Arthur handles many types of trade, from large oil tankers to military cargo.
In 2009, the Port of Port Arthur was federally designated as a U.S. Strategic Seaport, ready to support military forces during national emergencies.
Port of Port Arthur: All Trade
2003 to 2018
| Year | Total Trade through Port Arthur (in billions) | Percentage of Total Trade through Seaports |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $9.9 | 11.0% |
| 2004 | $11.8 | 9.9% |
| 2005 | $15.5 | 10.2% |
| 2006 | $18.8 | 10.6% |
| 2007 | $22.1 | 11.2% |
| 2008 | $29.7 | 11.3% |
| 2009 | $18.7 | 10.6% |
| 2010 | $25.0 | 11.1% |
| 2011 | $30.8 | 10.7% |
| 2012 | $28.5 | 9.6% |
| 2013 | $25.1 | 8.9% |
| 2014 | $25.0 | 9.1% |
| 2015 | $16.9 | 8.3% |
| 2016 | $15.1 | 9.0% |
| 2017 | $22.7 | 10.9% |
| 2018 | $29.5 | 11.3% |
Shipping activity through this port accounted for $22.9 billion in trade in 2018, 145 percent more than in 2003 ($9.4 billion).
Shipping activity has varied since 2003, but as a percentage of the total through all 10 Texas seaports, the port’s trade has been relatively stable (between 8 and 11 percent).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: USA Trade Online
Port of Port Arthur: Total Trade with Top Trading Partners, 2014 to 2018
Imports Exports
| Year | Trade | Exports | Imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $10.8 | $2.8 | $7.9 |
| 2017 | $5.3 | $0.1 | $5.2 |
| 2016 | $4.0 | $0.2 | $3.7 |
| 2015 | $6.9 | $0.8 | $6.1 |
| 2014 | $13.4 | $1.0 | $12.4 |
Saudi Arabia, Canada and Mexico together accounted for about 58 percent of the total trade through this port in 2018. The percentage was similar in 2014 and 2015 but had dropped below 50 percent in 2016 and 2017.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: USA Trade Online
| Port of Port Arthur | |||
| Top Imports: | Petroleum Products, Wood Pulp | ||
| Top Exports: | Petroleum Products, Chemicals | ||
| Top Trading Partners: | Saudia Arabia, Canada, Mexico | ||
The Port of Port Arthur is one of 29 official Texas Ports of Entry. See a select list of ports, plus more in-depth regional data.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.