Port Of Beaumont Reports Record Year For Public Docks, Numerous Capital Improvements

The public terminals of the Port of Beaumont experienced another record year with a 7.6 percent increase in tonnage. The port’s 2020 tonnage numbers for the public docks and wharves exceeded 7 million for the first time in its history, the port announced at the end of September, which was also the end of the port’s fiscal year.  

“The port has never been more productive, and it’s as a result of teamwork, planning and diversification,” said Port Director Chris Fisher. “We have a small team, but more than 450 years of combined experience.”

Over the last year, the Port of Beaumont spent $11.5 million toward the completion of the following capital improvement projects:

• Phase I of the Main Street Terminal 1 Dock Rehabilitation project (construction in progress);

• repair of the grain elevator embankment;

• Carroll Street Bridge project (construction in progress);

• engineering and design for the new rail interchange track;

• dredging of the Island Park Terminal;

• shoreline stabilization at the Main Street Terminal;

• design of the Orange County Security Access Control Center;

• replacement of the fenders at Harbor Island with eco-friendly composite fenders;

• improvements to laydown areas within the port;

• engineering and design for the port’s new truck queuing area; and

• engineering and design for the grain dock rehabilitation project.

While the pandemic has caused economic decline in many areas industrywide, the Port of Beaumont’s cargo volumes remained strong. Year-over-year, the port experienced a 38.2 percent increase in liquid bulk cargo, 14.1 percent increase in bagged goods, 49.2 percent increase in military cargo and a 42.7 percent increase in project cargo, resulting in a 7.6 percent increase in tonnage overall.