Texas Is Emerging as the Center of America’s Maritime Resurgence

Yesterday’s groundbreaking for Davie Defense’s new shipbuilding facility in Galveston marked a milestone not only for the Texas coast, but for the future of American industry.

The nearly $1 billion investment will bring advanced shipbuilding back to Texas, create thousands of jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity, and support America’s national security. More importantly, it serves as a reminder that Texas is playing an increasingly important role in a sector that rarely makes headlines but underpins much of our economic success: the maritime industry.

At the Texas Association of Business (TAB), we often talk about the industries shaping the future of our state: energy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and life sciences, to name a few. Yet all those industries depend on something more fundamental: the ability to move goods, products, equipment, and energy efficiently to markets around the world.

That is where Texas’ maritime industry comes in.

According to a new report released by TAB, Texas’ maritime industry generates nearly $714 billion in economic value, supports 1.8 million jobs, accounts for 28% of Texas GDP, and facilitates roughly two-thirds of all U.S. energy exports. Texas ports handle more than 616 million tons of cargo annually, making our state the nation’s leading gateway for global trade.

These numbers are impressive on their own. But they become even more significant when viewed through the lens of Texas’ continued economic growth.

As Texas attracts new semiconductor fabs, advanced manufacturing facilities, data centers, and energy projects, demand for world-class infrastructure continues to grow. The same economy that is building the future of AI and advanced manufacturing depends on a maritime network capable of moving products and resources efficiently across the globe.

At the same time, geopolitical realities are reshaping global commerce. Demand for Texas energy exports has increased as allies seek reliable sources of energy and supply chains become more strategic. The value of commodities shipped through Texas ports have increased by more than 50 percent over the past decade, further reinforcing the state’s role as a critical hub for trade and energy exports.

While the opportunity before Texas is enormous, so is the responsibility.

Maintaining our leadership position will require continued investment in port infrastructure, transportation networks, and the policies that allow projects to move forward efficiently. It will also require protecting the regulatory certainty that has enabled Texas to become the nation’s leading energy exporter and a global destination for investment.

Perhaps most importantly, it will require investing in people.

The maritime industry is expected to need as many as 250,000 additional skilled workers by 2033 as a significant portion of the current workforce approaches retirement age. Welders, electricians, pipefitters, crane operators, mariners, and other skilled trades professionals will be essential to supporting future growth.

Texas is already taking important steps to meet this challenge. Institutions such as Texas A&M Maritime Academy and San Jacinto College are helping prepare the next generation of maritime professionals, while new investments in shipbuilding and manufacturing are creating exciting career opportunities across the Gulf Coast. The success of projects like the one Davie Defense announced this week will ultimately depend on our ability to build the workforce needed to support them.

The maritime industry may not always receive the same attention as other sectors of the Texas economy, but its importance cannot be overstated. It supports our energy dominance, strengthens our manufacturing base, connects Texas businesses to global markets, and increasingly serves as a pillar of America’s national security.

As Texas continues to lead the nation in economic growth, innovation, and investment, we must ensure our maritime industry remains positioned for success.

The future of American energy, trade, and industrial leadership will depend in large part on what happens along the Texas coast.

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