Port of Oakland exports grow for fourth straight month

Export volumes at the Northern California port jumped 7 percent in April 2016 compared with the same month a year ago thanks in part to a weaker dollar making U.S. goods more affordable overseas.    The Port of Oakland handled 78,613 TEUs of export cargo in April, 7 percent more than the prior year, according to recent data released by the port.
   It was the fourth month in a row that exports rose. Import volumes, on the other hand, stood at 72,352 TEUs for the month, a 3.3 percent year-over-year decline.
   “Export volume is up 16.3 percent through April. That’s welcome news following a 2015 decline that saw Oakland exports drop 11.5 percent,” the port said, attributing export gains primarily to a weaker dollar that makes U.S. goods more affordable overseas.
   Total cargo volumes in Oakland – imports, exports and empty containers – declined 6.3 percent in April, the port said. That was due primarily to a near 30 percent drop in empty container shipments.
   For the year, Oakland’s total cargo volumes are up 11.3 percent so far compared with the same 2015 period.