Choose Harlingen: Accessibility and the Port of Harlingen

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (May 13, 2020) – Harlingen has many economic advantages that would benefit just about any business looking to relocate. A major advantage is our option for accessibility. Land, sea, and air – commodities come and go out of Harlingen via multiple modes of transportation.

Port of Harlingen director, Walker Smith, recently joined Harlingen Economic Development Corporation director, Raudel Garza, to give us some highlights about the Port and its regional economic importance.

But first, let’s get you a little acquainted since according to Smith, not too many people know that Harlingen has a port. Indeed, we do! The Port has been around for more than 65 years and is located on the Arroyo Colorado River. The port is a shallow draft, inland port for barge and multimodal transport. As an added benefit, the Port is part of Foreign Trade Zone #62 to one of the largest trade zones in Texas – meaning that it has the ability for global commerce.

If you’re a visual and numbers person, here’s a great snapshot from the Port of Harlingen’s website that gives us an overview of the value it brings to our region:

“We’ve been here a long time, we are very established here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Smith said.

“We have been setting record numbers over the last couple of years, last year we did 541 vessel calls.”

Barge cargo typically averages at 3-4 barges per day, or vessel calls, that are bringing in commodities such as fuel, fertilizers, liquid fertilizers, sand, sugar, and other commodities.

Watch the full interview below and learn more about this how the Port of Harlingen keeps not just Harlingen, but South Texas connected.