Crowley and Port Houston launch Gulf-Central America container service

Crowley and Port Houston have launched the Gulf-Central America Express Service, a new weekly container service designed to connect Port Houston with two major Central American trade gateways: Santo Tomás de Castilla in Guatemala and Puerto Cortés in Honduras.

Scheduled to make its first Houston call on September 10, the service will feature weekly Thursday departures. The route will transport a variety of dry and refrigerated containers, including 53-foot units to maximize intermodal efficiency. Cargo will include fresh produce, apparel, industrial products, and consumer goods.

The initiative follows data from the Inter-American Development Bank showing that Central American exports to the United States grew by 15.7 percent year-over-year in early 2026, primarily driven by demand for fresh produce. The direct connection aims to reduce reliance on transshipment, offering faster transit times and improved inventory planning for shippers moving goods to Texas, the Midwest, and the West Coast.