Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock Releases Port of Brownsville Economic Impact Study Results

December 17, 2025

(BROWNSVILLE) - Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock today released the results of a Comptroller's office study examining the impact of the Port of Brownsville on the Texas economy.

The Port of Brownsville is one of 23 seaports along Texas' 367-mile Gulf Coast and is the only deepwater seaport on the Texas-Mexico border. It is part of the Port Houston-Galveston Customs District, which also includes Freeport, Galveston, Houston, George Bush International Airport, Lavaca, the Sugar Land Regional Airport and Texas City.

"The Port of Brownsville isn't just moving cargo - it's moving opportunity for South Texas," Hancock said. "As one of the vital gateways in the nation's trade network, Brownsville helps drive international commerce, attract investment and create good-paying jobs. Ports like this are a key reason Texas continues to lead the country in global trade and economic growth."

Shipping activity through this port in 2024 accounted for $22.7 billion in trade, 116 percent more than in 2003 ($10.5 billion). This seaport's trade, as a percentage of the total through all Texas seaports, was 5.3 percent.

The value of exports from the Port of Brownsville to its top five recipient countries was $11.8 billion in 2024, or 97.9 percent of its total exports. Mexico was the leading destination for exported goods, receiving 92.8 percent of all exported commodities from the Port of Brownsville.

Based on the Comptroller's estimate, the Port of Brownsville in 2024 resulted in about 101,000 net jobs and contributed $11.9 billion to Texas' gross domestic product.

For more information on Texas ports, visit the Comptroller's website.