By Karen Robes Meeks
The amount of containerized produce cargo moving through the Port of Oakland has risen 36 percent since 2013, a number that is likely to grow as Oakland augments its capacity to handle this type of cargo, according to the port.
“This is high-value cargo that has to be handled carefully and shipped promptly,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. “Growth in our volume would indicate that we’re doing the job effectively.”
Oakland moved approximately $6.1 billion worth of containerized fruit and vegetable shipments last year, the equivalent of 135,000 TEUs. Four years ago, the port handled less than 80,000 containers.
Exports accounted for 103,000 containers of the port’s 2017 fresh fruit and vegetable cargo volume, with oranges and grapes among its leading export commodities. Top export markets included Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, according to the port.
To expand its temperature-controlled cargo capabilities, refrigerated exports are mainly being delivered at night to Oakland’s largest marine terminal to ensure quicker delivery, while the port’s second-largest terminal is adding hundreds of spaces for refrigerated containers to plug in this summer.
