Crowley announced it is starting a new weekly container service connecting Port Houston to Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala, and Puerto Cortés, Honduras. The ports are “two of Central America’s largest and fastest-growing trade gateways” and the Gulf-Central America Express Service’s first Houston call is planned for Sept. 10, according to Crowley officials.
Central American exports to the United States grew 15.7% in year-over-year shipments in early 2026, driven largely by demand for fresh produce, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.
"A direct Houston connection provides a reliable, efficient logistics solution for U.S.-Central American supply chains," said Claudia Kattan, vice president for Central America, Mexico and Panama at Crowley. "Shippers get faster transits, improved inventory planning and the flexibility to move fresh produce, consumer goods and other time-sensitive cargo without the delays of transshipments."
Port Houston now is one of the nation’s top five and fastest-growing container ports, commanding approximately 75% of U.S. Gulf container volume. The port's scale and inland connectivity give Central American exporters direct access to Texas, Midwest and West Coast markets, strengthening supply chain reliability for U.S. retailers.
“We are proud to welcome Crowley’s Gulf-Central America Express Service to Port Houston,” said John Moseley, chief commercial officer for Port Houston. “This new weekly call gives shippers a direct, reliable connection to Houston and two important Central American gateways, expanding choice for customers moving refrigerated and dry cargo through Houston.”
Beyond providing another option for shippers, the service will connect Houston more directly to the food, products and commercial activity moving between Central America and the United States.
“The impact of this service will extend well beyond the docks,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston. “It creates a more direct path for fresh produce and everyday goods to reach stores and families across our region, while helping Texas businesses connect with customers in Central America. That is what growth at Port Houston does: create opportunity and make the supply chains people rely on work better.”
Crowley officials say this expansion “builds on the company’s long-standing presence in Caribbean and Central America, where it has maintained an integrated inland logistics network for more than 65 years."
"By combining ocean transportation with warehousing and inland services through a single provider, businesses can reduce handoffs and improve supply chain visibility, a key advantage for retailers efficiently managing product inventory and shelf-life cycles.”
