Vol. 9, No. 11 April 2025

Port of Brownsville Thrives: Key Updates Driving Economic Growth

Westa Inc. is investing $20 million to set up a state-of-the-art wheat flour mill and storage silos at the Port of Brownsville. The development will cover more than 10 acres within the Business Park at the turning basin of the Brownsville Ship Channel.

Westa Inc. Advances Development at the Business Park

Food manufacturer Westa Inc., the first tenant of the Port of Brownsville’s 118-acre business park, is finalizing the layout for its $20 million facilities at the port.

Taking advantage of the port’s maritime access, Westa Inc. will receive grains via barge from the Midwest, enhancing the company’s supply chain operations for its high-capacity flour mill and sunflower seed processing plant set to employ 120 people.

Last April, the company celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking at its more than 10-acre site signaling the park’s optimal business advantage.

Currently in the final phase of construction, the Business Park is designed to support industrial growth for existing businesses at the port while attracting new opportunities. With direct connections to key transportation networks and international trade hubs, the business park provides an ideal location for companies looking to optimize logistics and strengthen their global presence.

Ternium Invests $200 Million in Port of Brownsville

Long-time Port of Brownsville business partner Ternium is expanding operations at the port with a significant $200 million development that includes a new 180-acre marine terminal. This facility is part of the company’s broader multi-billion-dollar expansion of its steel industrial center in Pesquería, Mexico. The new terminal is expected to boost steel and metal throughput at the port to over 9 million tons annually, with further project details to be announced.

Driven by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) steel content requirements, Ternium is constructing an electric steelmaking plant in Pesquería, ensuring compliance with the 70% regional steel-melting mandate for the automotive industry.

This terminal will have the capacity to receive 3.1 million tons per year of imported iron ore. Key infrastructure will include a dock for iron ore reception, two mobile port cranes, a conveyor belt system, a train loading station, and a storage dome. Located adjacent to the fishing harbor, this facility will play a crucial role in Ternium’s growing operations. The Port of Brownsville is the leading exporter of steel in to Mexico, moving more than 6 million tons of steel products annually.

Forza Steel Exemplifies Nearshoring at its Best

Mexican company Forza Steel is in the final stages of constructing its $85 million manufacturing facility located along State Highway 48 at the Port of Brownsville.

Construction of the 650,000-square-foot facility began in 2023 as part of its strategy to enhance operations and serve customers more efficiently.

For over two decades, Forza Steel has operated out of Salinas Victoria, Nuevo León, supplying steel to both the U.S. and Mexican markets. By establishing a presence at the Port of Brownsville, the company aims to reduce supply chain gaps and improve service to its growing customer base in the U.S. The company is slated to contribute 320 direct jobs to the region.

This strategic move highlights the benefits of nearshoring, as Forza Steel positions itself closer to key markets, leveraging the port’s logistical advantages to strengthen its North American operations.

Port of Brownsville: North America's Strategic Trade Gateway

Editor’s Note: This article is originally featured at mexicobusiness.news

Port of Brownsville Director of Business Development & Marketing Guillermo Rico was interviewed in March by Mexico Business News to discuss the Port of Brownsville's strategic position as a gateway for trade.

Q: The Port of Brownsville is the only deepwater port on the Mexico-US border. How does this unique position influence the port’s long-term strategic planning?

A: The Port of Brownsville is the most strategic logistics hub in North America, being the only deepwater port on the Mexico-US border and also being located in Texas. Our connectivity is key: we provide efficient access to the eastern and midwestern United States via highways, railroads, and the Intracoastal Waterway. In Mexico, we have direct connections to Monterrey, Saltillo, and the northeastern region, making us ideal for nearshoring and manufacturing. We also offer direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, the European Union, Asia, and South America.

Saving Shrimpers: Industry Cheers Proposed Legislation

Editor’s Note: This article is originally featured at myrgv.com

House Resolution 2071, the Save Our Shrimpers Act, has been reintroduced in Congress in an effort to prohibit federal funding from going to international financial institutions that finance foreign shrimp farms.

The Rio Grande Valley-based shrimp industry, and the rest of the domestic industry, hope it becomes law in light of the fact that U.S. shrimpers have been brought to their knees by unrelenting waves of cheap, foreign exports flooding the market and driving prices down past the point of sustainability.

The legislation, which has bipartisan support, was first introduced in 2024 by Reps. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, and Troy Nehls, R-Texas, with the aim of prohibiting federal funds from going to international financial institutions (IFTs) that subsidize any aspect of foreign nations’ shrimp industries. Such subsidies make it even more difficult for Gulf shrimpers to compete and stay in business.

Update on I-169 Interstate Project

Editor’s Note: This article is originally featured at riograndeguardian.com

Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority Executive Director Pete Sepulveda provided an update on the State Highway 550 Gap 2 project.

This is the project that will see an interstate connect to the Port of Brownsville. Currently, it is the only deepwater port in the nation that does not have an interstate connection.

Sepulveda spoke about the project when he gave an in-depth presentation on CCRMA’s current workload at a recent South Texas Manufacturers Association meeting held at the Brownsville Events Center.

Sepulveda said the State Highway 550 Gap 2 is a $40 million project, with CCRMA having a financial gap of $6 or $7 million to fill.

"It is going to be ready to go to construction, hopefully, in about another 12 to 18, months. We’ve got environmental clearance, we’ve got schematic done, we’ve got the right of way and utilities relocated. The design is about 95% complete," said Sepulveda.

Port Abilities: 56K Tons of Steel

The force is strong at the Port of Brownsville. In February, the MV Draft Vader called on the Port of Brownsville carrying more than 56,000 metric tons of steel slab from Brazil. The raw steel was unloaded by Gulf Stream Marine and will be transported by rail to Mexico for processing at Ternium's hot rolling steel mill.

ABOUT PORT ABILITIES

Port Abilities is a video series produced by the Port of Brownsville highlighting the seamless capabilities of the port's marine terminals serving industries worldwide.

BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

Esteban Guerra

Chairman

Sergio Tito Lopez

Vice Chairman

John Reed

Secretary

John Wood

Commissioner

Ernesto Gutierrez

Commissioner

PORT OF BROWNSVILLE ADMINISTRATION

William Dietrich

Port Director & CEO

Port Administration

Ph: 956.831.4592 / 800.378.5395

Fax: 956.831.5006

www.portofbrownsville.com

CALENDAR

April 16

BND Board Meeting

April 18

Good Friday- Port Offices Closed

May 7

BND Board Meeting

May 10

Mother's Day (Mexico)

May 11

Mother's Day

May 21

BND Board Meeting

May 16

Port of Brownsville's 89th Anniversary

May 22

National Maritime Day

May 26

Memorial Day- Port Offices Closed

Baker Hughes Picked to Work on Making RGLNG ‘One of the Largest’ in the World

Editor’s Note: This article is originally featured at offshore-energy.biz

NextDecade Corporation has inked two deals with compatriot energy technology giant Baker Hughes–a framework agreement for the latter to work on the former’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal under development at the Port of Brownsville and a contractual services agreement for maintenance of the trains at the future facility. Under the first deal, Baker Hughes is set to provide gas turbine and refrigerant compressor technology for the Rio Grande LNG facility, while the second entails performing maintenance work related to this equipment for trains 4–8 at the terminal.

"Utilizing Baker Hughes’ industry-leading rotating equipment and their maintenance services is critical to ensuring the Rio Grande LNG Facility operates efficiently and reliably," said Matt Schatzman, Chairman and CEO of NextDecade. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Baker Hughes as we progress our plans to make the Rio Grande LNG Facility one of the largest LNG production and export facilities in the world."

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