Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Oakland Imports Up

By Karen Robes Meeks

The Port of Oakland moved a record amount of imports last month, according to the port’s recent statistics. The port handled 84,835 TEUs in imports in July, moving 5.4 percent more than in 2016 with 80,508 TEUs and beating a March 2015 record of 84,023 TEUs in imported containers.

Import volumes are up 3.7 percent in the first seven months of 2017, which the port is attributing to the economic health of its core market in Northern California and Western Nevada and to the continued strength of US consumer spending.

“Retailers have been forecasting strong peak season import numbers this year and so far, they’re right,” said Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We’re glad to support them and we are ready for more.”

Meanwhile, the port saw 74,821 TEUs in exports in July, a 3.5 decrease from the same period last year, when the it moved 77,573 TEUs.

Overall, 209,883 TEUs in cargo volumes was handled in July, including empty containers, a 1.6 percent increase from July 2016, when Oakland moved 206,600 TEUs.