Ships are full, containers are picked over and truck drivers are in demand.
Houston's trading community is moving more cargo these days as higher oil prices and a rebounding economy have driven up exports and imports.
We're definitely seeing the wheels of the economic engine starting to turn," said Jeff Joachim, president of World Trade Distribution, a Houston company that provides warehousing, trucking and container storage, among other services. "You're starting to see people stock inventory again."
Houston's trade with the world rebounded by 26 percent last year compared with the doldrums of 2009, according to a recent report by WorldCity, which tracks trade data.
But it still hasn't reached the levels of 2008, a banner year for many in the local shipping business.
Last year, Houston traded $211.5 billion in goods with the rest of the world, up from $167.5 billion in 2009, WorldCity reported. That's still less than the record $240.8 billionthe Bayou City traded with world markets in 2008.
Nationwide, trade increased to $3.2 trillion in 2010 from $2.6 trillion in 2009. Last year's numbers were still below the $3.4 trillion in trade during 2008.
Like much of the rest of the U. S..Houston imports more than it exports and had a trade deficit of about $22 billion in 2010.
Pack n send has republished portions of this article written by Houston Chronicle journalist Jenalia Moreno. We look for positive upswings in the Houston and US economy for both freight and cargo.
For more information about packing, crating, cargo and freight shipping from Houston, Texas please contact pack n send at 713 266 1450.