July was the busiest month in 10 years at the Port of Oakland. The Port said today it handled the equivalent of 223,619 20-foot cargo containers last month. That was the most since it lifted 227,996 20-foot containers in August of 2006.
The Port said cargo volume was up across the board, perhaps signaling hope for the upcoming peak shipping season. “The numbers are encouraging and with holiday shipments set to commence, this could be the start of something good,” said Maritime Director John Driscoll.
Among the positive signs last month in Oakland:
Total container volume jumped 8.8 percent from July of 2015;
Export volume, up 3.6 percent, increased for the sixth time in seven months, strengthening Oakland's status as a leading gateway to Asia; and
Empty container volume rose as shipping lines repositioned boxes to prepare for an anticipated uptick in peak-season cargo.
The Port said it received 153 visits from container ships in July. That was up from 136 vessel calls during the same month a year ago. The Port said the numbers may quiet speculation that a newly widened Panama Canal threatens West Coast port volume. Larger canal locks opened July 1, coinciding with Oakland’s cargo surge.
The Port’s total cargo volume is up 6.4 percent through the first seven months of 2016. Exports are up 9.1 percent in that span and imports have risen 8.6 percent.
About the Port of Oakland:
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.