The Port of Oakland’s March total container volume has increased 10.7 per cent over February 2023.
This March marks the first month since November 2020 that Port of Oakland loaded exports have outpaced full imports.
Overall exports, including both full and empty containers, rose by 13.1 per cent compared to February 2023.
Loaded exports dropped 6.1 per cent in March 2023, with 65,635 TEU versus 69,878 TEU in March 2022.
Empty exports declined 28.8 per cent, registering 26,225 TEU this March in contrast to 36,832 TEU in March 2022.
“Exports are very important to Oakland and it’s great to see an upswing in our total export cargo volume compared to February; we hope to see that continue,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director, Bryan Brandes.
“Meantime, we are focused on the long-range picture, building infrastructure that will make maritime operations at Oakland more efficient and cleaner for years to come,” Brandes added.
READ: Port of Oakland ends 2022 on glum note
Overall imports, including both full and empty containers, also rose by 7.9 per cent.
Full imported TEU continue its downswing compared to March 2022, registering a 23.3 per cent drop, with 125,946 TEU handled by the Port this March in contrast to 164,148 TEU in March 2022.
This year’s first quarter full imported TEU volume declined by 20.5 per cent compared to the first quarter 2022.
Loaded imports dropped 36 per cent, with 60,311 TEU transiting the port, compared to 94,271 TEU in March 2022.
Empty imports rose 34.3 per cent, as 18,097 TEU passed through the port versus 13,479 TEU in March 2022.
The Port of Oakland is on a road to zero emissions from seaport operations with the Port Commission approving an environmental ordinance.
The port’s total throughput increase comes after it recorded a 21 per cent throughput decline in February compared to the same period in 2022.
This was largely due to West Coast ports losing their market share to ports on America’s East and Gulf Coasts.
