Seaports are often considered the economic engines of the markets they occupy. So when a port is increasing its business and handling more product, that growth is usually accompanied by a spike in industrial development in the surrounding metro areas. Such is the case in Texas, a state where port activity encompasses more than 1.5 million jobs and $360 billion in economic impact, according to the Texas Ports Association. The organization also states that the value of product passing through Texas ports currently represents approximately 25 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Texas and 6.4 percent of GDP for the United States. Overall volumes of maritime commerce are also on the rise following the completion of the Panama Canal expansion, a $5.4 billion project that wrapped in 2016. Ships and their cargoes are getting larger while the logistics of distribution are calling for faster delivery. Times are changing, and Texas ports are changing with them. The passing of the Water Resources and Development Act in 2016 has cleared the way for major improvements and expansion projects to occur on America’s rivers and harbors. And while industrial development is on the rise at and around the Ports of Beaumont, …
