Thread: Official: Port should expand trade routes; New toll road, ca

Port San Antonio News
March 8, 2007
Official: Port should expand trade routes; New toll road, cargo terminal will help efforts
By Fanny S. Chirinos Caller-Times

The Port of Corpus Christi is playing catch-up to the explosion in global trade coming from Asia and South America through Mexico, a port official said. But, business is booming and there's plenty of it to be had.

Port Chairman Ruben Bonilla and port staff sat in on a presentation Wednesday at the Town Club by Jorge Canavati, Port of San Antonio's vice president of business development. Speaking to local members of the World Affairs Council, a nonprofit group that promotes understanding of international issues, Canavati discussed San Antonio's efforts to secure business from Asian and South American companies transporting American-bound products through ports and rail in Mexico rather than though the Port of Long Beach, Calif.

Shipping through Mexico shortens the trip for products to reach their destination from four to seven days and is a bit cheaper, Canavati said. Going through the Port of Lazaro Cardenas and shipping by Kansas City Southern of Mexico rail to San Antonio saves about five days compared with unloading in the congested Long Beach port and shipping via trucks to San Antonio, he said.

KCS de Mexico owns more than 2,600 miles of rail in Mexico with direct service from the Mexican border to Lazaro Cardenas.

Bonilla said that although the presentation focused on San Antonio, it served to show trade opportunities available to the Corpus Christi port and its chances to expand its trade routes in Mexico. Much of the opportunity would depend on projects that haven't been built - a port container cargo terminal in San Patricio County, a truck and rail conduit in Robstown and a trucks-only high-speed toll road from Laredo.

"Trade is hemorrhaging and new trade routes are being established every day," Bonilla said. "Historically, these routes have been fixed and unbending. The link between these routes and us will be the La Quinta (Container) Terminal. We're playing catch-up with facilitator links such as the Robstown Intermodal Facility and the Port-to-Port Corridor from Laredo. But, even competition, as with the Port of San Antonio, will serve to benefit us."

Completion of La Quinta should happen by 2010, port officials have said. The terminal would serve to alleviate congestion at the Port of Houston.

The 140-mile corridor from Laredo would increase traffic to the proposed Robstown facility and La Quinta before departing to northern and eastern states.

Canavati said several Mexican distribution companies have expressed interest in shipping to South Texas, including Guadalajara-based World Trade Center Confianza, which has inquired as to business opportunities with the Port of Corpus Christi. He urged that the port take strides to aggressively promote the port.
"The Port of Corpus Christi must capitalize on its cold-storage facility by reintroducing it to refrigerated trucking companies like it did five years ago," Canavati said. "Now is the time. This is a very strategic location. The port is at the forefront of these new opportunities, but the world doesn't know about it."

http://www.portsanantonio.us/news_detail.asp?newsID=24

New leadership named at Free Trade Alliance San Antonio
San Antonio Business Journal - 2:52 PM CDT Friday, April 13, 2007
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The Free Trade Alliance San Antonio has a new president to fill the shoes of Blake Hastings, who resigned in January.

Hastings stepped down from the post after accepting a position as the vice president in charge of the San Antonio Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

The Free Trade Alliance has now hired Kyle Burns, the vice president of international sales for Columbia Industries, to be the organization's new president and CEO.

Burns worked for the local bowling-ball manufacturer for more than 14 years and held various positions overseeing international marketing and sales to Europe and Asia.

His expertise has been sought out nationally and he has testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding China's admittance to the World Trade Organization.

In related news, Sarah S. Sanchez, the alliance's interim executive director, has been named vice president of the organization. She has been with the Free Trade Alliance since 2000. In addition to being interim executive director, Sanchez served as the international trade development director.

She is also the immediate past chair of International Contemporaries of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio and a member of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones.

"With Kyle and Sarah and the talented team at the Free Trade Alliance, we're poised to achieve new levels of success in the development of international trade for San Antonio," says Arthur Emerson, chairman of the Free Trade Alliance's executive committee.

The Free Trade Alliance was formed in 1994 to lead the development of San Antonio as an inland port and a competitive international trade center. The organization's membership consists of both public and private entities.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/s ... ily38.html

Port Overview
Foreign Trade Zone | Air Cargo | Rail Service | Utilities | Additional Features

Logistics & Distribution

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If your business involves moving goods across the country-internationally or manufacturing, where "just in time" supply chain management is critical, Port San Antonio is a location you should consider. Port San Antonio's location and access to multiple transportation modes can give your business a competitive advantage.
300,000 SF existing warehousing available, ready for custom-built shipping and distribution operations
Port San Antonio is directly linked by 3 interchanges with I-90 to:
I-35, the main North/South route for NAFTA and the main trade corridor linking Mexico to Chicago is within two miles of Port San Antonio
I-10, the major interstate from Jacksonville Florida to Los Angeles California is located close to Port San Antonio via Hwy 90
I-37, within five miles from Port San Antonio, provides a direct link to the deep water Port of Corpus Christi

Approximate Driving Times
from San Antonio to:
Laredo, TX/Mexico 2.5 hours
Corpus Christi, TX 2.5 hours
Houston, TX 3 hours
Monterrey, Mexico 7 hours


Air Cargo ↑Top
Because of its central location, San Antonio provides economical advanges for air cargo operations. If your business involves international operations, our Foreign Trade Zone designation provides inventory and other tax break incentives. With its existing 11,500-foot heavy-duty runway, Port San Antonio is ready for "heavy lift" cargo aircraft and heavy-duty equipment deliveries. In addition, Port San Antonio can provide space for aircraft parking and "build-to-suit" product storage of heavy equipment or a sortation center. As a conveniently located, cost-efficient hub, consider the Port San Antonio's air cargo advantages.

Proximity to aviation maintenance and aerospace support activities
Airfield and ramps can accomodate 747-400
Space for cargo terminal development and access to existing warehouse space
An excellent location for air cargo operations to Mexico and South American markets and benefits of added fuel savings
Airport Planning


Rail Service ↑Top
Port San Antonio is located on two major rail lines, providing an excellent and efficient opportunity for bulk and industrial product manufacture and movement. Whether utilized for long haul or local use, Port San Antonio's rail network gives any business in need of reliable bulk and just-in-time delivery a competitive advantage.
Access to two Class 1 railroads - Union Pacific with its adjacent classification yard and the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe
Rail served spaced available for warehousing, manufacturing, and/or transloading
Direct rail service to the deep water Port of Corpus Christi, the Mexican border at Laredo with connectivity to Houston, Dallas/Chicago and westerly to the Port of Long Beach


Utilities↑Top
City Public Service (CPS), the second largest municipally owned utility in the nation, continues to provide reliable electric and natural gas to business customers in the greater San Antonio Metropolitan Area. Its electrical power system has sufficient reserve capacity to meet the needs of expanding companies, and its annual average electric rates for industrial users are the lowest of the major Texas cities and among the lowest in the nation.

The CPS electric system capacity is 5,116 MW, which consists of a fuel mix including coal, nuclear, natural gas/oil and wind power.

Electric and gas rates are below the national average and competitive when compared to other utilities across the state.

Utilities
Gas
Supplier PG&E Transmission Texas
Distribution City Public Service
Cost per MCF (Industrial) Cost per MCF (Industrial)
Electricity
Distributor City Public Service
Generating Capacity 5,116 MW
Peak Demand 4,117 MW
Growth Projection 3% annually
Fuels 50% coal, 36% nuclear, with remainder being natural gas (fuel oil used as emergency backup)
Water
Distribution San Antonio Water System
Supply 100% groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer
Pumping Capacity 862,000,000 gallons per day
Peak Pumping Rate 236,000,000 gallons per day
Reservoir Capacity 149,000,000 (in 72 storage facilities)
Sewer
City of San Antonio
Type of Treatment Activated Sludge and Tertiary Treatment
Permitted Capacity 225 MGD
System Utilization 55.5% (125 MGD) currently
Telephone
Southwestern Bell provides a state-of-the-art communications infrastructure including fiber optics, ISDN and Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) technology. These technologies meet the voice, data and video requirements of today and the future.

Information provided by the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Inc.



Additional Features ↑Top
Whether your business is transportation or manufacturing, Port San Antonio provides you with tangible advantages to help your business. Port San Antonio's location, access to major transportation routes, and multi-modal capabilities fulfill the needs in today's logistics business environment. Port San Antonio is not only a unique location, but also provides value-added services that will help make any business more competitive in today's market.

Foreign Trade Zone No. 80, Site 10
San Antonio's business friendly atmosphere
Fuel costs are competitive in the region
Workforce availability
Access to air resources via Port San Antonio
Knowledgeable and helpful staff to assist in site selection and business development and expansion





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After reading your article Dixie I'd say it's pretty much a done deal from their perspective.

WhatMattersMost wrote:

After reading your article Dixie I'd say it's pretty much a done deal from their perspective.

Yeah and they obviously think their perspctive is the only one that matters! WRONG!

Yip. San Antonio has it all figured out.

I'm sure we can count on SA city leaders to help us in the fight against the NAU, etc.

Trade is hemorrhaging and new trade routes are being established every day,"

Maybe they should stop importing so much "JUNK" I went through wall mart the other day with my daughter and I was amazed at the pure crap they are selling, who the hell needs so much junk! they are flooding our country with so much unnecessary stuff. so much for worrying about the environment!!

Wait, did you just say Wal-Mart sells junk? No way. Which Wal-Mart do you shop at? The one I shop is full of top of the line Chinese, Taiwanese, Singaporese, Sweatshopese imports.

Wal-Mart does rhyme with Fall-Apart...