Crowley launches new Houston–Central America service

Crowley, a global logistics, marine and energy solutions provider, has announced a new weekly container service connecting Port Houston to Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala, and Puerto Cortés, Honduras.

The Gulf-Central America Express Service will make its first Houston call on 10 September, with Thursday departures thereafter.

Crowley’s vessels will carry dry and refrigerated containers transporting fresh produce, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods, with a range of equipment sizes including 53-foot containers designed to maximise intermodal efficiency across the markets served.

Central American exports to the US grew 15.7 per cent year-on-year in early 2026, driven largely by demand for fresh produce, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.

Claudia Kattan, Vice President for Central America, Mexico and Panama at Crowley, said: “A direct Houston connection provides a reliable, efficient logistics solution for US-Central American supply chains. 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 ranks among the nation’s top five and fastest-growing container ports, handling approximately 75 per cent of US Gulf container volume.

Its scale and inland connectivity give Central American exporters direct access to Texas, Midwest and West Coast markets, strengthening supply chain reliability for US retailers.

John Moseley, Chief Commercial Officer for Port Houston, said: “We are proud to welcome Crowley’s Gulf-Central America Express Service to 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.”

Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston, stated: “The impact of this service will extend well beyond the docks. 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.”

The new service builds on Crowley’s long-standing presence in the Caribbean and Central America, where it has operated an integrated inland logistics network for more than 65 years.