HOUSTON – Crowley is expanding its ocean freight network with a new weekly service providing direct service to Port Houston, Texas, from Guatemala and Honduras in response to increasing demand for faster, more reliable service between Central America and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The new service will cater to exporters and importers dealing in fresh produce, retail products, apparel and industrial goods, and is an alternative for routes requiring transshipment.
The first sailing is expected to reach Port Houston on September 10, 2026.
Direct connection aims to cut transit delays
“We created this new route to improve predictability of transit times and increase flexibility for customers who move time-sensitive cargo,” said Claudia Kattan, Crowley’s vise president for Central America, Mexico and Panama.
The direct link is expected to help shippers better plan inventories and cut the uncertainty that comes with extra transshipment operations.
The service will feature Thursday departures and will carry both dry and refrigerated containers, allowing Crowley to handle a variety of cargo including temperature-sensitive products.
The company will also use 53-foot containers, which will help move cargo between maritime and inland transport networks.
Demand boosted by rising trade
The new service arrives as Central American exports to the United States continue to grow.
Central American exports to the U.S. rose 5.1% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, the Inter-American Development Bank said.
Fresh produce has been a major driver of the increase, raising demand for reliable refrigerated transportation and efficient shipping links.
The new service expands Crowley’s existing footprint in the Central American market and further integrates Port Houston into its broader ocean network, Crowley said.
Supporting time-critical cargo flows
The direct Central America-Houston connection is also meant to give shippers more control over their supply chains, especially for goods where the speed and predictability of delivery matters.
Crowley is aiming to eliminate the need for transshipment on the route and thus reduce possible delays while offering customers a more direct link between Central American production centers and the U.S. market.
Kattan said the company built the service to answer the current demand and to have room for future growth.
Crowley will continue to monitor customer needs and market conditions as the service evolves, and will make adjustments as required depending on cargo volumes and changing trade patterns.
The launch underscores the rising importance of direct maritime links between Central America and the U.S. Gulf Coast as manufacturers, retailers and agricultural exporters seek more efficient and resilient supply chains.
