By Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Oakland’s total cargo volumes are up six percent over the first six months of 2015, despite monthly volumes being down in June, the port reported July 18.
According to port data, Oakland terminals handled 1,152,608 TEUs between January and June 2016. During the same period in 2015, the volume was 1,087,417 TEUs. Total volume includes loaded and empty containers.
Regarding fully-loaded containers, the port’s imports and exports have grown 10.1 percent compared with the same January to June period in 2015. The port continues to see a balance between export (51 percent) and import (49 percent) cargo volumes through the Oakland gateway.
“These container statistics are encouraging in light of the current state of volatility within the global maritime industry,” Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said. “We are continuing to grow – a sign of the robust regional economy in Northern California and also of strong agricultural exports.”
However, when comparing loaded and total container volumes for the month of June 2016 versus June 2015, the data shows a 2.2 and 4.6 percent decline, respectively. The decline in total TEUs in June 2016 versus June 2015 was driven primarily by about 15 percent fewer export empty containers handled, according to port data.
The decline in loaded TEUs in June 2016 versus June 2015 was driven by a modest decline in export volumes, the port said, and that the export decline was due to softening scrap and waste paper shipments.
