Port of Eagle Pass Named Top 10 in United States at 4th Annual Trade Summit
By: Victoria Martinez, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas Port of Entry was named the top 10 in the United States at the 4th Annual Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit held on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the International Center for Trade with a record $37 Billion in total import and export trade crossing through the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico border, announced Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr.
“I could not be happier to be in Eagle Pass at this time,” Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. said. The Port of Eagle Pass increased its trade figures by 12.2 percent from 2022 at $34 Billion to the new figure of $37 Billion in 2023, noted Ken Roberts of WorldCity.
Eagle Pass City Manager Homero Balderas and Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. presented the State of the Port of Eagle Pass.
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson presented the opening remarks at the 4th Annual Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit.
“You have such as good a story to tell,” Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said. “This idea the story we need to keep sharing about Eagle Pass,” Texas Secretary of State Nelson added.
At one of the Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit panel discussions titled “Eagle Pass’s Role on Rails,” Ken Roberts of WorldCity stated “No other border crossings are growing at the rate of Eagle Pass.” Joining Roberts on this Trade Summit Panel was Union Pacific Railroad representative Raquel Espinoza.
The Port of Eagle Pass’ greatest trade partner is Mexico, contributing a total of $11.33 Billion through $8.15 Billion in imports and another $3.18 Billion in exports.
“The ports don’t just provide revenue to Texas, but to the country” as well, stated Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson.
State of Coahuila Secretary of the Economy Claudio Bres Garza presented the closing remarks with a presentation on the status of the international ports of entry between Coahuila and Texas, including Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras and Del Rio-Ciudad Acuna.
U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Laredo Sector Chief Paul Del Rincon noted that the Port of Eagle Pass future is promising with significant projections for growth in the next 10 to 20 years.
The 4th Annual Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit was a day long conference featuring important international trade panel discussions, including “Texas: The New Center of U. S. Trade” by Tatiana Panzardi of WorldCity; “Why Trade Matters, Border Technology” by Daniel Covarrubias of the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at Texas A & M International University and Mayra Maldonado of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at the University for Texas at El Paso;” “The Future of Eagle Pass Automotive Exports and Imports” by Ben Escarcega of Yusen Logistics, Hugo Santiago of SAF Holland, and Miguel Elizalde of Mobility Sustainable; and “The Future of Eagle Pass Industrial Real Estate” by Luis Bazan of the Pharr International Bridge, Carlos Molano of Forum Commercial Real Estate, and Jorge Ortiz of Amistad Industrial Parks.
An international trade fair was also held at the Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit.
The Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Toro Azabache Mariachi provided entertainment by the award-winning high school mariachi band.
Over 300 persons and companies attended the 4th Annual Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit, announced Aid Castano, Marketing Director of the City of Eagle Pass.
