The Port of Brownsville announced on March 11, 2026, the America First Refining project, which will be the first new U.S. Gulf Coast oil refinery in nearly 50 years.
The refinery, to be built on more than 240 acres within the port, will process 100 percent domestic shale oil using advanced, hydrogen-powered systems to produce ultra low carbon fuels.
According to America First Refining, the project will create 500 direct full-time jobs, with projected annual salaries ranging from $80,000 to $100,000. Thousands more indirect jobs are expected across construction, logistics and long-term operational support industries, representing one of the most significant industrial investments in South Texas history.
A contractor for the project, which is slated to break ground in April 2026, wasn't named.
Port leadership said it has worked on the project for more than 10 years.
"This announcement is a defining moment for our region," said Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra. "America First Refining chose us because we have the land, the infrastructure, the workforce and the commitment to get it done. This is exactly the kind of transformative investment that strengthens our economy and creates real opportunity for South Texas families."
The Port of Brownsville provides America First Refining with deepwater channel access, direct dock and rail connectivity, cargo-handling capabilities and foreign trade zone status advantages that position the port as one of the fastest-growing industrial corridors on the Gulf Coast.
The port is the only deep-water seaport directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and encompasses 40,000 acres.
The port transships more steel into Mexico than any other U.S. port and is home to energy, shipbuilding and ship recycling industries. It ranks No. 41 among the Top 150 U.S. maritime ports for waterborne cargo, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Activity at the port is responsible for adding more than $1 billion to the Rio Grande Valley regional economy and more than $12 billion to the Texas economy, and the creation of more than 100,000 jobs statewide.
"This project strengthens the Port of Brownsville as a critical U.S. energy logistics hub and elevates the entire Rio Grande Valley on the national and international stage," said Port Director and CEO William Dietrich. "We are proud to support America First Refining and to build stronger foundations for the future of this region."
America First Refining emphasized its environmental commitments as a central component of the project.
The facility will integrate hydrogen-powered technologies and advanced clean-fuel systems designed to minimize emissions and meet or exceed all federal and state regulatory standards. The company is working with federal, state and local agencies to secure the necessary environmental permits, a process the port is uniquely positioned to support.
