Container handling through Port Houston soared 21% in October vs. a year earlier, leading to the second largest result on record. Import growth of 24% in loaded containers led the way, outpacing an 8% rise in exports – a pattern seen across the country. Port Houston’s growth has been led by shipments from China, which have increased 22% in the past three months on a year earlier, vs. a 1% drop in shipments from Mexico. That likely reflects it being the biggest beneficiary of Asian traffic diversions via the Panama Canal.