Oakland experiences surge in exports

The West Coast port handled 83,969 TEUs of loaded containerized exports in May, the largest number of loaded export containers its handled since October 2014.    The Port of Oakland handled 83,969 loaded TEUs of containerized exports in May, 5.1 percent more than in May 2015 and the largest number of loaded export containers the port has handled since October 2014, the port said.
   In addition, May represented the fifth month that the amount of export containers increased.
   The port attributed the strong export volumes to the slightly weaker dollar, since when the dollar’s value declines, U.S. goods become more affordable overseas.
   “Export cargo is critical to our success,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said in a statement. “So naturally we’re encouraged by what we’ve seen so far in 2016.”
   Oakland cargo volumes have been traditionally weighted more toward exports than imports. Exports accounted for 52 percent of Oakland’s loaded container volumes in 2016 through May.
   In addition, loaded container imports in May totaled 81,293 TEUs, a 3 percent increase from May 2015.