News & Media
Real Hope - For a Change!
February 2013 – comets ablaze, lightning strikes St. Peter’s and a Papal resignation – a rather inauspicious set of events in the year’s shortest month. Yet, candidly, none of these ominous events turned marine commerce on its head in the Lone Star State. In fact, things were somewhat solid in the wake of 10% fewer days, a bout of fog and lessening demand for crude. As usual, the “frack ports” of Brownsville and Corpus Christi remained in positive territory for the month to the tune of 18% and 0.6% respectively. The remaining ports all saw fewer ships for the month but the bulk of those were still up on a per-day basis.
Texas City fared the worst with a nearly 32% month-to-month decline. Those Texas City terminals that are crude destinations took a disproportionate hit while the chemical-centric terminals held their own. Freeport suffered a similar albeit less dramatic fate with a nearly 25% wane. The Port of Galveston also put up a double-digit monthly loss of nearly 14%; however, its year-to-date progress was down by just over 1%. Sabine’s monthly negative change was under 9% - a positive sign in the refining arena – as reinforced by its year-to-date improvement of almost 18%. Finally, the Port of Houston slipped 6% since January but this was not nearly enough to prevent the Port from remaining up on a year-to-date basis at 3.2%.
As previously mentioned, the winter-weather whims had an adverse impact on vessels plying the region’s waterways. Inland tows are particularly vulnerable to fog and high winds from the ubiquitous “Northers” that descend upon the Gulf Coast. Not surprisingly, Houston Ship Channel tow movements were off 4% for the month. Conversely, “bluewater” tow movements into Houston were up an impressive 27%, underscoring the benefits of shale gas to domestic shipping. Another positive trade indicator for Houston was the 10% increase in bulk ship arrivals and the concomitant 4% monthly increase in City Dock activity despite an 8.5% decrease in general cargo movements throughout the port. Unfortunately, container vessel movements fell by 11% causing this ship category to remain down 5.5% year-to-date. As in Sabine and Texas City, Houston’s tank vessel arrivals fell by over 14% for the month and LPG arrivals – despite January’s stellar performance – sunk by 19%. Interestingly enough, Ro/Ro and Car Carrier movements were relatively strong and even chemical tanker movements climbed an additional 3% reflecting a heartening 23% climb in this category as compared to 2012.
Hence, there are glimmers of hope that the economy is not ensnared in stasis. After all, housing starts are up, unemployment is ever-so-slowly creeping downward and the consumer is confident enough to shoulder more debt. Of course, the anticipation of spring tends to cast off the pall of winter; particularly when the Christmas debt is paid off. Then again, it could very well be that events beyond our horizon are magnifying hope and bolstering all that is positive. After all, what other generation can claim the benefit of the prayers of two Popes and the hope and goodness of history’s first Pope Francis. Happy and blessed Easter.
Thomas P. Marian
Buffalo Marine Service, Inc.
www.BuffaloMarine.com
"Leading the way and dedicated to exceeding expectations."
Mar, 2013
