Port Houston operates two main container terminals, Bayport Container Terminal and Barbours Cut Container Terminal, and processed over 4 million TEUs in 2025. We manage full container loads (FCL) and less than container loads (LCL) through both terminals, covering inbound freight from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia-Pacific, as well as outbound freight on the same lanes.
For businesses with regular import programs, we manage carrier selection, booking windows, and contingency planning so that volume disruptions at the port don't become your problem to solve.
Freight Forwarding Houston, TX
Navia's Houston office handles freight forwarding across sea, air, and road for businesses importing, exporting, and distributing goods across Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the broader South-Central US. If your supply chain runs through Houston, our team is here.
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Houston's Freight Profile - The Gulf Coast's Biggest Trade Hub
Houston is a different kind of freight market to LA or New York. The Port of Houston is the country's number one foreign trading port by tonnage and the Gulf Coast's largest container port, and its trade mix reflects that. While the West Coast is dominated by consumer goods coming in from Asia, Houston's freight profile is broader, covering industrial equipment, chemicals, energy sector cargo, manufactured goods, and a fast-growing volume of imports from Latin America and Mexico.
Improvements to the ship canal have allowed larger vessels into the port, and containerized cargo volumes have been growing steadily, with Houston picking up share as some importers diversify away from West Coast gateways. For businesses importing into Texas, the Midwest, or the Southeast, routing through Houston can cut transit times for goods coming from Europe, the Middle East, India, and Latin America, and often works out more cost-effective than shipping to the West Coast and railing freight inland.
Sea Freight Through the Port of Houston
Air Freight Through Houston
The Houston Airport System handles over 550,000 metric tons of freight annually across its two international airports, George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby. For time-critical shipments, high-value industrial components, or supply chain emergencies, our team manages air freight bookings, documentation, and customs clearance, with onward road delivery to any Texas or Gulf Coast address.
Air Freight ForwarderRoad Freight & Regional Distribution
Once your cargo clears customs at the port or airport, we coordinate road freight to your warehouse, distribution center, or any address across Texas and the surrounding states. Houston's central position in the South-Central US makes it an efficient distribution point for businesses serving a wide geographic footprint, and we manage the full domestic leg as part of the same service.
US Customs Clearance - Handled In-House
Customs clearance at Houston covers a wide range of commodity types, from industrial machinery and chemicals to consumer goods and perishables, each with their own classification and documentation requirements. Our in-house customs team handles the full process for sea and air freight moving through Houston, including HTS classification, CBP documentation, and bond management.
With tariff policy affecting more trade lanes more frequently than it has in years, having a forwarder who manages customs directly rather than through a third-party broker matters. Fewer handoffs means fewer delays, and one team accountable for the whole process.
The NaviaHub - Live Visibility Over Every Shipment
The NaviaHub gives you a real-time view of your entire supply chain, with exception alerts that flag at-risk shipments before they go late, KPI reporting against your SLAs, and SKU-level tracking from origin through to your Houston facility. It connects directly to your ERP or WMS so your internal systems stay current without manual data entry.
Every Navia customer gets it as standard, whether you're moving five containers a month or five hundred.
Houston's Trade Lanes - Latin America, Europe, & Beyond
Houston's geographic position on the Gulf Coast gives it natural advantages on trade lanes that other US ports can't match as efficiently. Freight from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and across Latin America moves through Houston faster and more cost-effectively than routing via the West or East Coast. The same applies to goods from Europe and the Middle East, where Gulf Coast routing via the Panama Canal is increasingly competitive on both time and cost.
For businesses importing from Asia-Pacific, Houston is also a growing option. Gulf Coast ports have been on the rise as shippers diversify their gateway ports away from the West Coast, and the continued expansion of Port Houston's ship canal means it can now accommodate the larger vessels that previously had to discharge at LA or Long Beach. Navia operates its own offices in Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, which means businesses importing from Asia-Pacific through Houston have the same in-house origin coverage as those routing via the West Coast. Same team, same platform, different gateway.
Talk to our Houston freight team.
Whether you're moving cargo through the Port of Houston, importing from Latin America or Europe, or looking at Houston as an alternative to West Coast routing, our team is ready to help.
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What types of freight does Navia handle through Houston?
We handle containerized sea freight, air freight, and road freight across a wide range of commodity types, including industrial equipment, manufactured goods, consumer products, and chemicals. If you have a specific cargo type or handling requirement, contact our Houston team and we'll confirm what's needed upfront.
What's the transit time for sea freight from Latin America to Houston?
Transit times from Latin America vary by origin. Freight from major Brazilian ports typically runs 12-16 days to Houston. From Colombia or Mexico's Gulf Coast ports, transit can be as short as 3-5 days by sea. We'll give you accurate current transit times based on your specific origin when you get a quote.
Is Houston a good gateway for freight from Europe or the Middle East?
Yes. The Gulf Coast routing via the Panama Canal is competitive for both European and Middle Eastern trade lanes, and Houston handles strong volumes on both corridors. For businesses that have historically used East Coast ports for European freight, it's worth comparing the total cost and transit time of routing through Houston, particularly if your end destination is Texas or the South-Central US.
Can you handle freight that currently routes through the West Coast?
Yes, and for some businesses it's worth reviewing whether the West Coast is still the right gateway. If your distribution point is in Texas or the central US, routing through Houston can reduce inland freight costs and cut a meaningful amount of transit time. We'll look at your current setup and give you an honest comparison.