Three Texas ports form regional trade alliance

Three Texas ports recently formed the South Texas Alliance for Regional Trade (START) to promote industries and trade in the region via joint marketing and communication efforts.

The ports in Corpus Christi, Laredo and San Antonio plan to work collaboratively to provide integrated and comprehensive support services, including logistics, or efficient access to rail, sea, road and air transportation; customs/brokerage; build-to-suit warehousing, manufacturing and office facilities; and networking assistance with prospects, suppliers and others in the region or abroad.

Laredo is home to the largest U.S. inland port with warehousing and manufacturing space, and has access to a major truck/rail border crossing. Port Corpus Christi is the nation's fifth-largest U.S. seaport, and Port San Antonio features a railport that is growing quickly because of drilling activities in the Eagle Ford Shale, START partners said in a mission summary.

The ports are served by BNSF Railway Co., Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific Railroad, as well as three interstates. In addition, all three ports are foreign trade zones.

The ports plan to tout their combined assets to attract business and freight volumes to the region.

"We don't really compete with each other. We can market ourselves better as a group," said Port San Antonio President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Miller in a news article posted on Port Corpus Christi's web site.