The Port of Houston and the Panama Canal was the theme of the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business Supply Chain Fall Symposium Nov. 4 at the institution’s main campus.

The Bauer Supply Chain Forum provides a conduit for information exchanges between the colleges’ program and the greater Houston business community through the engagement and support of industry partners.

PHA Trade Development Manager Ricardo Arias spoke about the background and history of the Panama Canal expansion, while Ryan Mariacher, container terminals director, and Will Whitehouse, senior trade development manager for the port, discussed the expansion of Port of Houston Authority terminals in a thriving market with increasing demands.

Economic Analyst Jordan Frisby gave a presentation on what the plastic resins boom means to Houston in regard to exports, while Chief Port Infrastructure Officer Rich Byrnes provided an update on intermodal logistics.

“The Port of Houston has been an economic engine for the city of Houston for over a century now, and we continue to see dynamic growth each year,” said Whitehouse. “The Port continues to develop new markets and customer bases, to ensure that this success continues for the years to come.”

The expanded Panama Canal locks opened for business in June of 2016 and the port received its first ship passing through the locks in July.