Port of Oakland posts strong import growth in February

The California port handled 14.9 percent more loaded import containers in February from 12 months prior, reaching 174,902 TEUs.    The Port of Oakland handled 188,175 TEUs in February, a 7.6 percent increase from the 174,902 TEUs handled in February 2017, largely due to strong import growth.
   Full import container volumes were up 14.9 percent from last February, reaching 73,666 TEUs.
   Continuing strength in U.S. consumer spending helped drive the port’s import business, but the port advised that March volumes could dip due to post-Lunar New Year factory holidays in Asia, Oakland’s primary market, the port said.
   The port added that compared to last February: 
     • Full export container volumes were up 1.8 percent to 73,905 TEUs;
     • Empty import container volumes were up 10.2 percent to 16,724 TEUs;
     • And empty export container volumes were up 3.7 percent to 23,880 TEUs.
   “A lot can happen in an uncertain trade environment, but we’re off to an encouraging start to 2018,” Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle said. “There’ll be challenges along the way, but we still see steady cargo growth into the future.”
   Earlier this month, the Port of Oakland adopted a strategic plan, calling for cargo volumes to grow 8 percent by 2022.