When it comes to a high demand for steel, few US cities match Houston. The Bayou City is largely considered to be one of the most important industrial centers in the world. In fact, the city was recently ranked number one among all of the U.S. top manufacturing cities by Manufacturers’ News Inc. Here’s a look at just a few of the biggest Houston industries that are driving the high demand for steel supply:

• Maritime.  

  Texas has been ranked as the top exporting state in the country for over a decade, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This is largely thanks to the Port of Houston, which links the city with 1,043 ports across 203 countries. From the ships themselves to the docks, the maritime industry has a high demand for reliable steel supply in Houston.

• Energy.  

  Houston is also the nation’s energy headquarters and a global nexus for nearly every segment of the oil and gas industry. Steel suppliers in Houston are needed for the steel tubing that is used to drill for oil and gas, as well as all of the fittings and components utilized with it.

• Manufacturing and technology. 

  Houston employs nearly a million skilled workers in over 6,000 manufacturing firms. Every one of these companies utilizes a wide array of steel products including steel sheets, piping, tubing, and I-beams. With such a high concentration of manufacturing and technological companies it should come as no surprise that the steel supply need in Houston is greater than that of almost any other city.