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The Port of Houston reports that it recorded its best ever annual tonnage figure of 38.3 million tonnes in 2017 - beating the previous record of 37.8 million tonnes set in 2014.

It was also a record-setting year for the port's container business, which saw the total number of TEUs handled increase by 13 percent to 2.46 million TEUs last year; the previous record was set in 2016 with a volume of 2.18 million TEUs.

"We are again on our way to another tremendous year of opportunity and growth at Port Houston," said Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria.

Storage agreements and new bunker supply activity

Last year saw bunker players ink new storage agreements in Houston and surrounding areas. Back in May, GCC Bunkers LLC launched its physical supply operation in the Houston and Galveston area. The company entered into agreements for marine fuel storage at Texas International Terminals in Galveston and began offering DMA 0.10% sulphur gasoil, and RMD 80 0.10% sulphur fuel oil.

In the final quarter of 2017, meanwhile, Peninsula Petroleum signed a storage agreement with Houston Fuel Oil Terminal (HOFTI) in a move designed to support the company's bunkering operations in Houston and surrounding ports. The accord also enabled Peninsula to start supplying bunkers ex-pipe to ships calling at the facility.

Other Texas moves

Meanwhile, Bunker Holding last week reinforced its commitment to Houston and nearby locations with the launch of Bunker One, which included the rebranding of its bunker operation in Texas, Unity Bunkering.

Elsewhere in Texas, World Fuel Services last year sealed an exclusive agreement to supply marine fuel at the Sunoco Logistics Nederland Terminal.