The following release was published by Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland’s container volume continues its upward trend. Total cargo volume increased 5.3% in May 2024 compared to May 2023, with 188,040 TEUs (twenty-foot containers).
Full import cargo volume in the first five months of this year increased significantly compared to the same period in 2023, rising 18.9%. Full imports reached 80,039 TEUs, which is 12.9% higher than May 2023, when 70,887 TEUs passed through Port terminals.
Full export volumes dipped slightly. Full exports decreased by 2.4%, processing 61,931 TEUs this May, compared to 63,475 TEUs in May 2023. Despite the dip, the outlook remains positive. Perishable goods shippers are returning to the Port of Oakland because vessel schedule reliability has increased in recent months.
“Overall positive trends point to the long-term resiliency of Oakland’s maritime business,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “We just celebrated a direct service rail route established between Oakland and Nevada that will further enhance cargo movement between our seaport and the U.S. interior.”
Port Commissioners and Port leadership recently traveled to Taiwan to meet with ocean carrier executives and strengthen those relationships. The meetings focused on Oakland’s infrastructure investments, emissions reduction plans and new inland rail connections.
Empty exports rose 17.9%, with 33,390 TEUs departing from the Port in May 2024, versus 28,315 TEUs in May 2023. The rise in empty exports is the result of the increase in full imports at Oakland from Asia. Ocean carriers are repositioning empty containers back to Asia to pick up new loads of cargo.
Source: Port of Oakland