Intermodal logistics facilities have been demonstrated to be among the most impactful economic drivers in Texas. The state’s two facilities – Port San Antonio and AllianceTexas – provided significant contributions to the $1 trillion in international trade earnings in 2024, according to economic impact studies conducted by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Port San Antonio and AllianceTexas are unique in being the only ports in the state that are designed to handle three modes of transportation – air, ground and rail. Businesses have the unique opportunity to trade through these facilities and take advantage of flexible transportation options unmatched across other Texas ports.
In the studies, the Comptroller’s Office determined the ports contributed a combined $26.9 billion to the Texas GDP. AllianceTexas’ share totaled $16.3 billion, split between $15.2 billion from the private sector and $1.1 billion from the public sector. In 2024, the port’s trade activity was valued at $834.6 million, marking a 550.7% and $833.2 million increase compared to 2016.
The top five export commodities in 2024 worth a combined $788.1 million were:
- Machinery and mechanical appliances – $324.8 million.
- Electric machinery and equipment – $276.6 million.
- Aircraft and spacecraft equipment – $116 million.
- Optical and photographic instruments – $31.8 million.
- Inorganic chemicals – $15.1 million.
The top import commodity in 2024 was special classification provisions, delivering $46.2 million in value. When compared to 2023’s numbers, 2024’s evaluation indicates that AllianceTexas has significantly developed its export and import values. In 2023, the port’s trade value was $164.9 million for exports and approximately $260,000 for imports.
AllianceTexas’ current resident companies include 85 firms from Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes’ list of top private companies in the nation. In addition, the port processed 628.7 million pounds of cargo weight in 2024 through air traffic operations. The facility’s success and rapid growth have made it one of the largest inland ports in the country.
Port San Antonio also had a successful 2024, with its contribution to the state’s GDP totaling $10.6 billion. The port’s 2024 trade activity was valued at more than $1.2 billion, covering a 152% and $774 million increase when compared to 2021’s results. The top five export commodities – culminating in a $1.2 billion value – were as follows:
- Aircraft and spacecraft equipment – $863 million.
- Electric machinery and equipment – $180.3 million.
- Machinery and mechanical appliances – $64.3 million.
- Plastic products – $35.8 million.
- Precious and semiprecious stones – $26.6 million.
The top five import commodities in 2024 worth a combined $49.9 million were:
- Aircraft and spacecraft equipment – $12.8 million.
- Electric machinery and equipment – $9.8 million.
- Special classification provisions – $9.2 million.
- Machinery and mechanical appliances – $9.2 million.
- Beverages and spirits – $2.6 million.
Compared to 2023, Port San Antonio’s evaluation indicates that the facility has experienced considerable growth. During the previous year, the port’s trade value was $880.1 million for exports and $46.3 million for imports.
The port currently hosts more than 80 public- and private-sector tenants and, like AllianceTexas, specializes as one of the only two intermodal logistics facilities in the state that offers air, ground and rail transportation services. In addition, Port San Antonio operates as a technology campus.
Over the past eight years, the port has added nearly 8,000 aerospace, cybersecurity national defense, space exploration, manufacturing, research and development and education sector jobs and more than 800,000 feet of commercial and industrial facilities. The port plans to break ground on a 300,000-square-foot office facility called the Innovation Tower next year.
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