Port Commissioner Rajan Ahuja, the first Indian American to hold the prestigious position in Corpus Christi, Texas, offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of America’s busiest oil export hubs.

Beyond the massive ships and endless streams of crude oil, the port operates as a highly organized economic engine.

“There are many revenue streams,” Ahuja explains. “The biggest ones are the waterways. When a ship comes and docks at a dock, the water belongs to the port because we maintain it. If the dock belongs to a refinery, then they pay us for the water only. If the dock is ours and the water is ours, then the fee is twice as much.”

In addition to docking fees, the port earns revenue from leasing its expansive land holdings. “We own about 31,000 acres,” he notes. “Certain compa

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