Houston is the most vulnerable port to the rising global threat of extreme weather events, according to a study.

Oxford University researchers have for the first time quantified climate-related risks on the global ports infrastructure and found that damage to facilities and the knock-on effect on international seaborne trade could cost more than $70bn a year.

The study, published on Thursday in the scientific journal Communications Earth & Environment, examined 1,340 ports around the world and concluded that 86% were exposed to more than three natural hazards every year.