Historically, the U.S. East Coast (Atlantic region), led by New York, dominated trading activities with other nations.
This certainly had an impact on the local economy in terms of growth in related industries such as shipping, trucking, railroad, and other such industries which resulted in the growth of marine engine oils, railroad engine oils, and HDMOs.
We may now see a shift in trade on a similar scale, with the U.S. Gulf Coast, led by Houston, New Orleans, and other ports in the region being the beneficiaries. A potential game changer, as announced by the Wall Street Journal, is the $5.25 billion widening of the Panama Canal scheduled to be completed in 2014. (Read more…)