The Port of Oakland has announced that its 2016 containerised export volumes are up 19.9% so far over 2015, with March, 2016 exports up 9.9% for the third consecutive month.
Port officials attributed the gains to a recent decline in the strength of the dollar as US goods are more affordable overseas when the dollar's value declines.
John Driscoll, Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland, said: “It's too soon to declare this a trend, but we're encouraged by recent signs. Exports are a critical component of our business.”
Oakland exports comprise more than half the port's total cargo volume while other West Coast ports depend on imports.
The port said that total containerised cargo volume is up 18.9% this year. Total volume for the month of March declined 14.5 percent, the result of a drop in imports.
The decline in March was limited by a seasonal post-Lunar New Year slowdown in imports from Asia.
See below for an infographic of the Port of Oakland:
Fact File: The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States
