HOUSTON — Houston’s trade ties with its global partners have largely recovered from the impacts of the pandemic, according to the Greater Houston Partnership’s latest Global Houston report.  The analysis documents how Houston’s international activity in 2022 continued to set records: The Houston-Galveston Customs District continues to rank first in the country in tonnage handled (exports and imports) with over 382.8 million metric tons. For the first time in history, the Houston-Galveston Customs District ranked first in total value with $372.6 billion, which typically ranks second behind Los Angeles/Long Beach. Exports topped $191.8 billion, well above the previous record of $140.8 billion set in 2021. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is back at pre-pandemic levels and continues accelerating. The Partnership documented 44 business expansions from companies headquartered overseas in 2022, up from 33 in 2021. In 2020, only 13 non-U.S. firms announced plans to expand or relocate operations in the region. International migration surged to 47,400, accounting for the largest share (38%) of the region’s population growth in 2022. International air traffic continues to edge closer to pre-pandemic levels. The Houston Airport System handled 10.4 million international passengers in 2022, up from 7.3 million in 2021 but still below the pre-COVID peak of 12.0 million in 2020.  The Port of Houston set a record for container traffic, handing nearly 3.2 million loaded TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units), a 17.9% increase over 2021. “The international metrics demonstrate Houston’s ties global economy continues to strengthen, positioning the region for continued growth despite global economic headwinds,” Partnership Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski said. According to the report, the ongoing war in Ukraine, persistent inflation, and rising interest rates are key factors that continue to be speedbumps to growth but are not considered outright obstacles. “Any slowdown caused by macro forces will likely impact Houston only marginally,” Jankowski said. “Houston’s economy will continue to expand, create jobs, and attract new residents to the region.”   Other data included in the report reflects Houston’s influence as a global business hub:  Houston has trading relationships with more than 200 countries. The value of exports via the district has exceeded imports every year since 2013. Over 1,700 foreign-owned firms have an office, factory, distribution, or service center in Houston.  Nearly 150 Houston-headquartered companies operated subsidiaries outside the U.S.  Another section of the Global Houston report provides additional statistics and information about Houston’s international business ties and ranks the region’s top 20 trade partners. The value of goods and services traded increased among all leading partners in 2022, continuing the trend of growth. Top 10 Houston trade partners and the value of trade in 2022:  Mexico -- $32.1 billion, up from $21.6 billion in 2021. China -- $31.9 billion, up from $24.8 billion in 2021.  South Korea -- $24.6 billion, up from $16.2 billion in 2021.  Brazil -- $20.1 billion, up from $16.8 billion in 2021.  Netherlands -- $19.1 billion, up from $13.4 billion in 2021.  United Kingdom -- $16.4 billion, up from $9.9 billion in 2021. India -- $15.7 billion, up from $13.9 billion in 2021. Germany -- $15.0 billion, up from $12.0 billion in 2021. Japan -- $14.4 billion, up from $11.5 billion in 2021. Singapore -- $13.6 billion, up from $5.9 billion in 2021. View the trade profiles report here.  ### Greater Houston Partnership  The Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a business. As the economic development organization for the region, the Partnership champions growth across 12 counties by bringing together business and civic-minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long-term success. Representing more than 950 member organizations and approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place companies come together to make an impact. Learn more at Houston.org.   CONTACT:           Brina Morales                                                 Director, Communications      bmorales@houston.org       (c) 832-287-5089             

Investment opportunities in energy transition, manufacturing, technology, and the port were the focus of a recent trade and investment mission to Houston’s fourth-largest international trading partner, Brazil. The Greater Houston Partnership, Mayor Sylvester Turner, and the Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce led the week-long mission to promote the Houston region as a top global destination for trade and investment.  Houston-Brazil trade has grown steadily since 2016, despite a dip in 2020. In 2022, trade increased by 20% to $20.1 billion from $16.8 billion in 2021. More than 8,135 people living in metro Houston were born in Brazil.  “Brazil is one of Houston’s most important international partners, with a record-breaking year for trade in 2022,” said John Cypher, Vice President of International Investment and Trade at the Partnership. “A number of Brazilian companies already have significant investment in Houston including Oxiteno, Petrobas and Novanor.” Seven Brazilian firms operate 12 subsidiaries in the Houston area and 44 Houston firms operate 119 subsidiary locations in Brazil including Airswift, McDermott and SLB.   The delegation also included Houston business leaders from the Houston Airport System, Port Houston, United Airlines, Radix, EPAM Systems, MCA Engineering LLC and Squire Patton Boggs LLP. High-level meetings included:  Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro  Claudio Castro, Governor of Rio de Janeiro Marilia Marton, Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of the State of Sao Paulo Petrobras, a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation in the petroleum industry.  BRASKEM Radix Novonor Raizen  Additionally, members of the Partnership’s International Investment & Trade team promoted Houston’s emerging digital technology and innovation ecosystem during meetings with Invest Sao Paulo, Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), and AMCHAM.  Houston’s energy transition efforts and the importance of building stronger ties with our South American allies to bolster these efforts took center stage in meetings with Porto do Açu, the Industry Federation for the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), and the Brazilian Institute of Oil & Gas. Representatives including IBP President and CEO Roberto Ardenghy, Radix CEO João Carlos Chachamovitz, and Sotreq S.A. CEO Marcelo Orberg discussed accelerating low-carbon industrialization and sustainable development. According to Cypher, the ports in Brazil are looking to Houston for how to best support the energy transition. The ports are building numerous terminals that will contribute to energy transition efforts, including hydrogen, carbon capture and sequestration. The delegation also met with Mauricio Tomalsquim, Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability from Petrobras, who shared recent developments in Brazil’s energy transition space. Following productive meetings in Brazil, the Partnership and the Houston Energy Transition Initiative team hosted an in-bound delegation of Petrobras' representatives during the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston to discuss challenges and opportunities in CCUS and hydrogen for both regions as part of continued efforts to facilitate collaboration and business development. Learn more about international business in Houston.