Port Report““We saw a signi? cant downturn in tonnage and revenue (last year), as we were down about 10%, in some categories even more. This year has started to bounce back in a big way, and we have seen an uptick this year from just about everybody. The ability to export crude has made a big difference.” John P. LaRue, Executive Director, Port Corpus Christihe Port of Corpus Christi lives tal tonnage (about 100 million tons per CHART 1up to its moniker ‘Energy Port year), a gateway to international and do-of the Americas,’ as the move- mestic marine commerce. Port Corpus Christ : Top 10 Commodit es, Import vs. ExportTment of energy in and out While the general assumption may be dominates the port’s history and future. that anything energy-centric would lan- Inbound OutboundJohn P. LaRue, Executive Director, Port guish today given the three-plus year Rank Commodity Tons Commodity TonsCorpus Christi recently visited Maritime global swoon in energy pricing, Port 1 Crude Oil 15,761,584 Crude Oil 29,714,938Logistics Professional’s headquarters in Corpus Christi has held its own. Cheap New York City to discuss the nearly $50 energy has attracted foreign industrial 6,066,359 2 Fuel Oil 4,637,798 Gasoline billion in investment projects driving the investment in the port, and the decision 3 Gas Oil 4,246,925 Diesel 4,531,766port forward. by the U.S. government in 2015 to allow 2,652,955 “Let’s just start with what we are and the export of oil means that today Port 4 Bauxite 3,244,344 Sorghum what we are not,” said LaRue. “We are Corpus Christi exports more oil than it 5 Feedstock 2,581,068 Feedstock 2,588,666not a container port. Up until a few years imports. (Last year it imported 15.7 mil-2,045,939 6 Aggregate 1,672,308 Condensate ago we were an oil import port (serving) lion and exported 29.7 million tons of three re? neries: Citgo, Valero and Flint crude. For a look at the Top 10 imports 7 Naphtha 1,072,998 Gas Oil 1,844,819Hills Resources. We also have two grain and exports, see Chart 1.)8 Reformate 708,888 Fuel Oil 1,653,480elevators; and the only facility that we “We saw a signi? cant downturn in ton-9 Benzene 599,896 Cumene 1,336,286operate directly is dry bulk.” nage and revenue (last year), as we were Pure and simple, the Port of Corpus down about 10%, in some categories 10 Fert lizer 439,804 Naphtha 1,334,888Christi is an energy hub, connecting the even more,” said LaRue. “This year has 11 Other 3,218,693 Other 11,520,094Gulf of Mexico with the vast U.S. inland started to bounce back in a big way, and TOTALS *** 38,184,306 *** 65,290,190waterway system, positioned between we have seen an uptick this year from the country’s two largest shale oil and just about everybody. The ability to ex-gas plays, the Permian Basin and Eagle port crude has made a big difference.”Source: Port of Corpus Christ Ford. Port Corpus Christi is the fourth Illustrating the point using a top Port largest port in the United States in to- Corpus Christi customer [Oxy], that ? rm 56 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2017MR #8 (50-57).indd 56 MR #8 (50-57).indd 56 8/4/2017 4:02:55 PM8/4/2017 4:02:55 PM