By Mark Edward Nero
Overall Port of Oakland cargo volume – full import and export containers – increased 2.7 percent last month compared to September 2015, the port reported Oct. 11. The increase was mainly due to outbound cargo containers.
According to data, a year-long export rally continues to barrel ahead at the port, with its September 2016 containerized export volume rising 10 percent compared to the same month in 2015. It was the eighth increase in nine months, and the first double-digit jump since February.
“Exports make up more than 50 percent of our overall cargo volume,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll explained. “So the continued growth in September shows we’re playing pretty well to our strength.”
The port said that through the first nine months of 2016, export volume has increased nine percent. It added that California growers drove much of the improvement, shipping fruit, nuts and wine to Asian consumers.
The news wasn’t all good however, as import volume was down 4.2 percent last month, which was the first full month since Hanjin Shipping filed for bankruptcy protection. Hanjin loads and unloads ships at Oakland International Container Terminal.
Overall container volumes for the first nine months of the calendar year were up 3.5 percent at the port compared to 2015. Full Port of Oakland cargo statistics are available at http://www.portofoakland.com/port/seaport/facts-and-figures/.
