32 THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE www.joc.com JUNE 9.2014
U.S.
GULF
REPORT
SPECIAL
REPORT
TH E N U M B E R S LOO K like t y pos:
M o r e t h a n $ 1 0 0 b i l l i o n i n
pet rochem ica l ma nufac t u r i ng
con
st r uc t ion i s u nder way or
planned across the U.S., mostly
in Texas a nd Louisia na. That 's
billion, with a "b", and it's a con
-
ser vat ive ta lly. The f ina l tota l
could rise much higher.
Th is f ren z y of const r uct ion
is a direct result of the boom in
shale oil and gas drilling, which
i s sup erch a r g i ng t he reg ion's
economy and driving expansion
and increased volume at U.S. Gulf
ports from the Mexican border to
the Mississippi River.
A manufacturing
rebound fueled
by shale drilling
sparks rapid growth
in cargoes at Gulf ports
By Joseph Bonney
