Port Houston staff participated at the 2017 Harris County International Trade and Transportation Conference at NRG Park Oct. 31.

Executive Director Roger Guenther served on a port and Hurricane Harvey supply chain panel, while Chief Port Operations Officer Jeff Davis discussed port operations during a resin exports and packaging session.

The annual conference brings together representatives connected to the transportation industry to learn about the latest challenges, technologies and trends affecting their businesses.

Harris County and its surrounding region is known as a gateway to North America and a center for global commerce.

“What is important is how freight gets to where it needs to go. Freight drives the Texas economy,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, who welcomed the attendees.

During the port panel with Port Houston, Port Freeport, the Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Beaumont, moderator Curtis Spencer, president of IMS Worldwide, Inc. said, “These Texas ports will be a return on investment for exports.”

Houston’s 10 area refineries represent 12 percent of the U.S. refining capacity. 

ExxonMobil and other refineries along the Houston Ship Channel are expanding capacity for an increased demand of plastic resins and petroleum-based products. “Each supplier is working to develop a supply chain model that fits its unique needs,” said Perry Padden, Americas Logistics and Distribution Manager for ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

“I think that the Port of Houston is taking some great steps,” added Brian Fielkow, Jetco Companies representative on port operations and planning for future resins.

Houston is the largest export port in the nation.