After a dip of nearly 12 percent in January, imported cargo at the Port of Oakland rose 26.2 percent in February compared to the same time last year, according to new numbers released March 15.
The Northern California port handled 80,200 TEUs in imports last month, its busiest February on record.
Meanwhile, the port moved 69,588 TEUs in loaded exports, an 11% drop from the same time a year ago. A reason for the decline? Not enough space on ships for exporters to load their goods.
Other than the January decline -- which was due to congestion at Southern California ports that delayed ship arrivals at Oakland -- import numbers at Oakland have been trending upward since the summer as consumer spending rises.
“It’s what we expected,” said Port Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “Oakland continues to benefit from an unrelenting trade boom. We also completed the assembly of three new giant cranes, which will further improve efficiency.”
