Why the Woodlands?
Houston's Global Connections. The Woodlands' Quality of Place.
Plug into the global trade network of America's #1 exporting metro from The Woodlands, a premier business hub 25 minutes from Bush Intercontinental Airport where international executives and their families feel at home.
Peter Huntsman
Chairman & CEO, Huntsman Corporation
Huntsman manages a global chemical business from its headquarters in The Woodlands. Hear why a company serving customers around the world chose to call The Woodlands home.
The Woodlands Advantage by the Numbers
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#1
U.S. exporting metro, with $177.3 billion in exports in 2025
GHP, 2026 Global Houston report -
$353.7B
Total trade through the Houston-Galveston Customs District in 2025, #5 in the nation
GHP, 2026 Global Houston report
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117
Foreign-owned companies that announced plans to locate or expand in the Houston region in 2025, up from 81 in 2024
GHP, 2026 Global Houston report
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86
Countries with consulates or honorary consuls in Houston
GHP International Business page
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21.8%
of The Woodlands residents were born outside the U.S., compared with 14.1% nationally
U.S. Census QuickFacts, ACS 2020–2024
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20 min
to Bush Intercontinental Airport, with nonstop flights to 190+ destinations in 39 countries
EDP site; FlightConnections (Sept. 2026)
Global Opportunities
North American Headquarters
Establish your U.S. leadership team in Class A office space surrounded by amenities, with direct access to Houston's executive talent and global flight connections. Italy's AB Energy USA chose The Woodlands for its North American headquarters in 2026.
Energy & Chemicals Operations
Base your U.S. operations near the world's second-largest petrochemical complex and the nation's energy capital. International leaders including Repsol and Indorama Ventures already operate here.
Life Sciences & Biomanufacturing
Grow your U.S. presence in an expanding life sciences cluster with GMP-ready sites and proximity to the Texas Medical Center. Bionova Scientific, a subsidiary of Japan's Asahi Kasei, operates in The Woodlands.
Your Gateway to the World
From The Woodlands, your team and your products reach the world quickly, through the same infrastructure that makes Houston America's top exporting metro.
Air
Bush Intercontinental Airport is 20 minutes away, with nonstop flights to 190+ destinations in 39 countries. Fly direct to Houston's top trading partners and key headquarters cities, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, Istanbul, Dubai, Mexico City and Monterrey.
Port
Port Houston handled a record 4.3 million containers in 2025, and the Houston-Galveston Customs District moves more foreign tonnage than any other in the U.S., giving manufacturers and distributors direct access to global shipping.
Road
I-45 and the Grand Parkway connect The Woodlands to the entire Houston region and the Texas Triangle, putting Dallas, Austin and San Antonio within a day's drive.
Global Business Network
Houston is home to 86 consulates, foreign banks and dozens of foreign chambers of commerce, so international companies have their home-country business networks close at hand.
International Companies Already Here
Success Story
AB Energy USA (Italy)
In 2026, AB, a global leader in cogeneration and renewable natural gas based in Italy, opened the North American headquarters of AB Energy USA in The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway. The company expects to add about 45 jobs in 2026 and 30 jobs a year over the following five years in engineering, service and integration roles.
“Establishing our North American headquarters in The Woodlands is a strategic decision that supports our long-term growth and ability to attract top talent.”
— Paolo Ruggeri, CEO, North America, AB Energy USA
Ready to Explore the Woodlands?
Our team works confidentially with international companies to evaluate sites, connect with local partners and plan a smooth market entry.
