Jan. 16—The Port of Harlingen generated more than $4.6 billion in economic activity in fiscal year 2023, according to a new economic impact study done by the port in conjunction with the Texas Ports Association that measures the financial impact of ports statewide.
The study was conducted by Martin & Associates, which in 2022 conducted an independent study for the port based on 2021 data. The latest report shows a notable increase in economic activity in subsequent years, according to the port, which cited a 156% increase ($1.79 billion to $4.6 billion) in economic activity from fiscal years 2021 to 2023, and a 159% increase in jobs (9,750 to 25,224) supported by the port’s cargo and vessel movement during the period.
The amount of local and state tax revenue generated by cargo and usage fees increased 119%, from $36 million to $79 million, and direct revenue received by businesses working with the port grew 108%, $120 million to $250 million, according to the port.
Harlingen Port Director Walker Smith said that, while the state only recently began focusing seriously on ports’ infrastructure needs and funding, Harlingen’s port has for years “been on the rise as an economic driver our the region and the state of Texas.”
“Over the last eight years, we have seen tremendous growth in tonnage, going from just under 1 million tons to more than 3 million,” he said. “Cargo movement and maritime business … (have) far-reaching impacts over our economy, with more jobs, new money from exported goods injected into our local economy, money spent in our area and tax revenue from goods. Better ports mean better business.”
Ports statewide are having a major economic impact, Smith said, noting that last year’s Legislature made its largest investment to date in port infrastructure and predicting that the benefits from such investment would only grow.
Total tonnage handled by public and private marine terminals across Texas increased by 130.3 million tons, with the result that 2.5 million jobs were supported by marine cargo activity in 2023, an increase of 728,741 jobs since 2018, according to the TPA report. The combined economic value of Texas marine cargo activity rose from $449.6 billion to $713.9 billion between 2018 and 2023, according to the report.
The state’s ports contributed more nearly than $714 billion in economic activity to the state in 2023, accounting for 28% of Texas’ gross domestic product (GDP), according to TPA.
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