International trade is a huge industry in the Bayou City. Trade between Houston companies and their worldwide trade partners was valued at $192.2 billion in 2017, according to a May 2018 report from the Greater Houston Partnership. Houston's two international airports, a spaceport and the Port of Houston — the busiest port in the state of Texas and the 16th busiest port in the world by tonnage — all contribute to Houston's trade activity. Here are the five countries doing the most business with the Bayou City, per the GHP.
1. Mexico
Houston's largest international trade partner is its neighbor to the south — Mexico. Trade facilitated between the two countries in 2017 was valued at $20.1 billion, though trade has fluctuated between $14.7 billion and $31.4 billion over the last 10 years, per the GHP.
There are 37 Houston firms operating 132 subsidiaries in Mexico, including the American Bureau of Shipping, Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) and Tetra Technologies Inc. (NYSE: TTI). There are 17 Mexican companies located in the Houston area operating 20 subsidiaries such as Mrs. Baird's Bakeries Inc. and CEMEX USA Inc.
2. China
China ranks second on Houston's top trade partners list, per the GHP. The partnership accounted for $18.8 billion in trade value in 2017. Trade has fluctuated between $9.1 billion and $18.8 billion over the last decade, the GHP reports.
There are 44 Houston companies operating 114 subsidiaries in China, including BMC Software Inc. and energy equipment supplier Dresser-Rand Group Inc. There are 16 Chinese companies operating 18 subsidiaries in the Houston area, including COSCO Shipping (USA) Inc.
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