Maersk held its top position in the Journal of Commerce’s rankings of the top 10 carriers importing into US Gulf ports in 2024 — but the carrier was bumped by Mediterranean Shipping Co. from the top slot for exports.

Maersk imported 513,016 TEUs to Gulf Coast ports last year, down 0.5% from 2023. Similarly, its import market share fell slightly to 19.1% from 20.6%.

MSC maintained the second spot in the Gulf Coast rankings, hauling 476,387 TEUs, up 8.3% from 2023. The carrier claimed 17.8% of the import market share, up slightly from 17.6% in 2023.

CMA CGM was in third with 407,626 TEUs and a 15.2% market share for Gulf imports — up from 13.9% in 2023. The carrier also increased its Gulf Coast import volumes by 17.2%.

Meanwhile, the combined Cosco Shipping/OOCL was good for fourth with 270,340 TEUs imported to the Gulf Coast, up 11.7% from the year prior. Its share of the regional import market climbed to 10.1% from 9.7%.

The fifth slot for imports was maintained by Hapag-Lloyd, which held an 8.8% market share with 234,939 TEUs imported, an almost 9% jump from 2023. In sixth, Ocean Network Express (ONE) imported 149,397 TEUs to the Gulf Coast in 2024, up more than 10% over the year. It held 5.6% of the market share, up from 5.4% in 2023.

Carriers in spots seven and eight swapped places in 2024, with Evergreen Marine edging out Zim Integrated Shipping Services with 4.8% of the market share and 129,105 TEUs imported. Zim brought in 123,000 TEUs, good for a 4.6% market share.

Dole/Tropical Fruit Americas held 2.9% of the market share in 2024, down slightly from 2023, and moved 78,863 TEUs. Del Monte’s market share was essentially unchanged at about 2.1% with 55,046 TEUs brought into the Gulf Coast.

Overall, the top five carriers bringing in US Gulf Coast imports hauled 1.90 million TEUs in 2024, accounting for 71% of the total market share. The top 10 carriers collectively hauled 2.43 million TEUs into the Gulf Coast, up 7.4% from 2023, and had a market share of 93.6%.

MSC leads in US Gulf exports

MSC held 24.1% of the export market share in 2024, up from 21.8% in 2023. The carrier moved 459,789 TEUs from the Gulf Coast, up 14.5% over the year.

Maersk, bumped to second place for exports, held 22.7% of the market share — unchanged from 2023 — with 433,483 TEUs. Its volumes increased by 5% from 2023. Spots three through 10 on the list were unchanged compared with 2023.

In total, exports from the Gulf Coast reached 1.91 million TEUs in 2024, up 3.8% from 2023. Of that total, the top 10 carriers hauled 1.81 million TEUs — up more than 5% from 2023.

Houston top Gulf port

Meanwhile, Houston’s chokehold on Gulf Coast imports continued in 2024, bringing in 1.89 million TEUs, an 8.4% year-over-year increase and good for more than 70% of the Gulf import market share in 2024. The Port of Mobile maintained its position at number two for Gulf Coast imports with just under 11% of the market share at 291,121 TEUs, up 2% from 2023.

Tampa Bay climbed into the top three for the first time with 4.8% of Gulf Coast imports, at 129,571 TEUs, besting New Orleans’ 4.4% market share and 119,348 TEUs. Tampa Bay demonstrated the most year-over-year import growth for Gulf Coast imports, with volumes climbing 15.6%.

Rankings on the export side stayed largely unchanged compared with 2023. Houston continued to dominate Gulf Coast exports in 2024 with nearly 75% of the market share. It moved out 1.4 million TEUs during the year, up 6.1% from 2023.

New Orleans and Mobile continued to hold second and third place, respectively, with 237,536 TEUs and 159,148 TEUs. Each had year-over-year changes of less than 2.5%.

Overall, Gulf Coast ports imported 2.68 million TEUs, up 7.1% from 2023. Exports reached 1.91 million TEUs, gaining 3.8% over the year.

Laura Robb, Associate Editor | Mar 24, 2025, 2:48 PM EDT