Moving Texas Exports: Examining the Role of Transportation in Export Commodity Supply Chains - Executive Summary

In 2014, Texas was the number-one exporting state in the United States and had been for 13 consecutive years. Texas’ strategic location in terms of trade with Mexico, Central America, and South America; major gateways; extensive multimodal surface transportation infrastructure; diverse workforce; and pro-business climate facilitate the state’s competitive position in international trade. This report summarizes a series of six papers describing the supply chains of six of Texas' major export commodities. The purpose of this series of reports is to: (1) Document the characteristics of Texas’ export trade; (2) Describe the supply chains for six of Texas’ major export commodities—cotton; motor vehicle parts; electronic instruments; plastic resin; timber, wood, and wood products; and liquefied natural gas (LNG); (3) Examine the role of transportation in the export supply chains; and (4) Identify the transportation concerns of exporters that affect the costs of exports and Texas’ competitiveness in global markets.