Crowley and Port Houston Launch Weekly Central America Service on September 10

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Crowley has announced the launch of its weekly "Gulf-Central America Express Service," connecting Port Houston with Santo Tomás de Castilla in Guatemala and Puerto Cortés in Honduras. The inaugural voyage is scheduled to arrive in Houston on September 10, with weekly departures from Houston every Thursday thereafter.

The two Central American ports served by the route are among the largest and fastest-growing trade gateways in the region. Crowley's vessels will carry both dry and refrigerated cargo, including fresh produce, apparel, industrial products, consumer goods, and project cargo. Container configurations include 53-foot dry containers, 40-foot and 45-foot dry and refrigerated containers, as well as 20-foot and 40-foot flat-rack equipment, with the 53-foot container designed to enhance intermodal efficiency within the region.

According to data from the Inter-American Development Bank, Central American export volumes to the United States grew 15.7% year-over-year in early 2026, driven primarily by demand for fresh produce. Port Houston handles approximately 75% of U.S. Gulf Coast container throughput and ranks among the top five container ports in the United States, with inland connectivity that gives Central American exporters direct access to markets in Texas, the Midwest, and the West Coast.

Claudia Kattan, Crowley's Vice President for Central America, Mexico, and Panama, stated that the direct Houston connection provides a reliable and efficient logistics solution for the U.S.-Central America supply chain, enabling shippers to benefit from faster transit times, better inventory planning, and the flexibility of avoiding transshipment delays when shipping time-sensitive cargo such as fresh produce. John Moseley, Chief Commercial Officer of Port Houston, noted that the new weekly call provides shippers with reliable connections to both Houston and the two Central American gateways, expanding customer options for moving refrigerated and dry cargo through Houston. Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston, said the service creates a more direct pathway for fresh produce and everyday goods to reach local stores and homes, while helping Texas businesses connect with Central American customers.

Crowley has operated an integrated inland logistics network in the Caribbean and Central America for more than 65 years. By combining ocean transportation with warehousing and inland services through a single provider, businesses can reduce supply chain handoffs and improve visibility. Crowley is a privately held, U.S.-owned and operated maritime, energy, and logistics solutions company that has provided marine and land transportation solutions to commercial and government customers for over 130 years, operating across 36 countries and island territories and serving as one of the leading employers of U.S. mariners. More information is available at crowley.com/logistics.