Port Mansfield Joins Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12

The Willacy County port now participates in the foreign-trade zone program, with Willacy County added to the zone's service area.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in International Trade

Vector editorial illustration of a plain steel dock and concrete seawall along a flat coastal waterway, with stacked steel boxes and a crane silhouette under a wide sky. — The Willacy County Port of Port Mansfield in Raymondville, Texas, joined Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12, allowing eligible businesses to pursue FTZ designation for their facilities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Port of Port Mansfield in Raymondville, Texas, became part of Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12, and Willacy County was added to the zone's service area. Eligible businesses in and around the port can pursue FTZ designation for their facilities under the Alternative Site Framework.

Why it matters

Foreign-trade zone participation can allow goods to be admitted, stored, handled or processed without immediate payment of U.S. duties and certain taxes, which can help companies improve cash flow and reduce costs. Companies must still meet security and compliance standards and obtain authorization before activating an FTZ site.

The port offers a 17-foot authorized depth through the harbor and turning basins and a 700-foot authorized channel width, while more than 1,500 acres of land are available for commercial and residential plots. The number of businesses that have applied for FTZ designation at the port has not been reported.

The players

Willacy County Navigation District

The local governmental entity that manages the Port of Port Mansfield and its industrial and commercial land holdings.

The details

Port Mansfield, managed by the Willacy County Navigation District, sits one mile from the Intracoastal Waterway. A newly completed commercial staging dock and seawall provide 380 to 400 feet of berthing space, supported by Texas Department of Transportation Maritime Division funding and local partnerships.

2020 to 2022: Port assets more than doubled.
November 6, 2026: Port announced its membership in Foreign-Trade Zone No. 12.

Market Dynamics

The port's FTZ membership fits a broader push by Texas Gulf coast ports to expand capacity as trade volumes grow along the region. Under the Alternative Site Framework, existing port and industrial sites can pursue zone status without being built as traditional zone sites.

Businesses operating in or near the port that pursue FTZ designation could reduce duty and tax payment timing on imported goods. Any company seeking this status must still satisfy security and compliance requirements before activation.

The takeaway

Port zone status can change how Texas Gulf coast businesses manage import costs, but each facility must clear authorization steps before the benefits apply. Companies weighing FTZ designation should review compliance obligations early in the process.