Researchers measured five categories:1. Jobs2. Employee earnings3. Business revenue4. Local purchases by firms5. State and local taxes


Cargo a Big Jobs GeneratorThe statewide economic value of cargo operations at public and private marine terminals on Galveston Harbor totaled $6.5 billion in 2023. These operations generated 19,000 Texas jobs, $1.6 billion in personal income, $5.5 billion in business revenue and output, $210 million in local purchases, and $123 million in state and local taxes.

The Port of Galveston moved 3.6 million tons of cargo in 2023, generating jobs for union workers, stevedores, ship pilots, and truck drivers, to name a few. The port’s diversified range of cargos includes bulk liquid, bulk fertilizer, roll-on/roll-off cargo, new cars, and wind turbine components.

Private terminal operators accounted for roughly 10 million tons of liquid and dry bulk cargos transported by deep-draft vessel, train and truck.

Exponential Cruise GrowthResearchers compiled local impact numbers for our cruise business in 2023, when almost 1.5 million passengers embarked on 354 cruises. Last year cruise operations generated 4,547 jobs for Galveston area residents, $291 million in personal income, $733 million in local business revenues, and $25 million in state and local taxes.

One big surprise was the direct impact on Galveston’s tourism industry. Researchers found that 34 percent of cruise passengers stayed in hotels either before or after a cruise. While here, they shopped, dined out and took taxis. Crew members also shopped locally while in port.

The report also compared 2019 cruise numbers to 2023 statistics. In those five years, the port rebounded from a global pandemic, built its third cruise terminal, and expanded Cruise Terminal 25 to welcome the Carnival Jubilee.

Below are the increases by category, from 2019 to 2023.

  • Jobs – 25 percent
  • Personal income – 64 percent
  • Business revenue – 60 percen
  • Local purchases – 131 percent
  • State and local sales taxes – 55 percent


We expect this trajectory to continue as we welcome larger ships, see higher ship occupancies and open our fourth cruise terminal in November 2025.
In 2022, Martin Associates reported that the fourth cruise terminal would generate 925 jobs, $177.4 million in local business revenue and nearly $5.1 million in state and local taxes. They estimated that each vessel call would generate $2.1 million in local business revenue.
Based on our 2023 economic performance, that’s a forecast you can take to the bank.

I’m excited to share new economic impact numbers for the Port of Galveston’s cruise and cargo business lines. They demonstrate how important this port is to the local, regional and state economies. They also stress the tremendous return on investment Galveston citizens get as the port funnels its revenues back into growing the port.