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Celebrating 90 years of progress in 2026, the Port of Brownsville has transformed a bold vision into an economic powerhouse, securing billions in private investment and anchoring one of the fastest-growing manufacturing and logistics hubs in Texas.
Established by voters in 1928 and officially opened in 1936, the port reshaped the southernmost tip of Texas from an agriculture-based economy into a global trade gateway. The construction of the Brownsville Ship Channel during the Great Depression connected the Rio Grande Valley to the Gulf of Mexico and laid the groundwork for decades of industrial expansion.
From its earliest days, the port evolved from handling agricultural products and earning the title "Number One Cotton Port in the Nation" to managing grains and shrimp, and ultimately becoming a diversified logistics hub supporting steel, energy, construction and the space industries as well as positioning itself as the premier hub for shipbuilding and ship recycling in the U.S.
As the only deepwater seaport located directly on the U.S–Mexico border, the port plays a critical role in international commerce, accounting for 5.3 percent of Texas’ total trade value moving through all 23 seaports of the Lone Star State, according to the Texas Comptroller’s office. Its geographic position provides direct access to global maritime routes while serving as a key gateway for cross-border trade between the United States and Mexico.
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