Port of Beaumont, an Economic Engine Driving Southeast Texas

March 17, 2022

Development Companies, General Contractors, INDUSTRIAL NEWS, Management Companies, Subcontractors & Commercial Services

Southeast Texas Economic Development – The Port of Beaumont

The Port of Beaumont has been a key economic engine for Southeast Texas, helping to drive our economy since 1908.

Industry, nations even, run on logistics – how can I get products in and out of my market on time and on budget?

The sea has often been a source of power throughout time. Shipping remains a key tool for sustaining economic power.

A warm, deep water port is a tremendous asset for any industry. In Southeast Texas it has been a key to our success with oil, natural gas, rice and grain, steel production, and timber.

In 1916 The Port of Beaumont began to take on something of the shape we know today. The channel was deepened to 25 feet. A turning basin was created in a bend of the river. Local businessmen created dock facilities along the waterfront. From this facility, we could send our timber, grain, and cotton out across the globe.

Fun fact: Did you know there is a family in Beaumont with a certificate displayed on the wall from the Government of Cuba (pre- Castro) thanking them for being the number one importer of rice into the nation of Cuba? That is a lot of rice!

The Port of Beaumont turned 100 in 2016. To a large degree, the story of their success is the story of the region’s success. The Port of Beaumont is a major economic engine regionally, nationally, and globally.

If you’re making money in The Golden Triangle’s commercial sector, the port is behind the scenes smoothing the way across industries: petrochemical, construction, military, agriculture, timber, alternative energy, and automotive.

The mission of The Port of Beaumont is straight forward – to improve ease of navigation and to develop maritime shipping and waterborne related commerce.

The Port of Beaumont has excelled in that mission.

Today, The Port of Beaumont ranks:

World’s busiest military port
Fourth busiest port in the United States
Thirty-fourth largest port worldwide (tonnage)
On the path to become the largest LNG exporter in the United States

The Port of Beaumont is part of the Sabine-Neches Waterway which is the number one import route of crude oil by ship in the country. The Sabine-Neches Waterway is also home to about 57% of the U.S. petroleum reserves. There are 50 states, many of them with significant presence in petroleum production. Half of the country’s oil reserves are within an hour’s drive of your house. That is a very big deal.

To remain a dominant player in the global shipping world, The Port of Beaumont is in expansion and improvement mode. Partnerships with private industry are growing the resources the port can provide. A partnership with Jefferson Energy Company has created a 250-acre petroleum unloading and shipping center on the east bank of the Neches River Ship Channel at the Port of Beaumont. Their heat assisted heavy crude unloading system provides the high sulfur heavy crude from Canada on which our refineries depend. The terminal is accessible by rail, interstate highway, and marine transport. This public / private initiative is a key player for our region and our major refinery employers who have the ability to process 1.5 million barrels of oil each day.

Click here to learn more about Jefferson Energy Company.

One growing import is Eucalyptus wood pulp from Brazil. The high quality pulp is in demand for high end paper towels, tissue paper, and toilet paper. Volume has grown to 20,000 tons per month and is projected to keep growing. Eucalyptus is uniquely positioned to prosper in a “greening” world. It is harvestable every seven years and an entirely renewable resource. From The Port of Beaumont, the pulp is delivered via rail to manufacturers across the country.

One of the big issues we’ve covered in various editions of our magazine is the challenge of finding local candidates for skilled, high paying jobs. The Port of Beaumont has a key ally in Lamar University. Lamar offers a Masters of Engineering Management Program that is ideal for Port Management candidates. The program is a partnership between Lamar College of Business and their Department of Industrial Engineering. The program also offers certifications in port management. Graduating candidates are proficient in understanding costs, project management, leadership skills, risk assessment, and evaluation of engineering estimates.

For more information, contact Dr. Brian Craig, PE, CPE. (409) 880-8804. Brian.Craig@Lamar.edu.

Click here for a link to the Lamar University Port Management Program.

In 2015, The Port of Beaumont was awarded the Spindletop Award. The award is considered the top award given by the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and recognizes an enduring business or entity that has had a positive economic impact on Southeast Texas. The Port was chosen in part for its $200 million in annual economic circulation and cumulative local employment of 3,700 people.

The Port of Beaumont is a key economic force in Southeast Texas.

Are you using the Golden Triangle’s economic engine to help drive your business?

Schedule a meeting with the Port of Beaumont to better understand their mission and how it may help you grow your business.

We hope you have enjoyed today’s feature article.

At Refined Magazine, we enjoy highlighting the companies, individuals, and institutions who help shape the economy in the Golden Triangle.