Port of Oakland’s import volumes rise in May

The Northern California port handled 82,440 TEUs of imports during the month, the highest import volume at the port since August 2015.    The Port of Oakland saw container import volume reach a two-year high in May ahead of the busy summer peak season.
   The port handled 82,440 TEUs of imports during the month, 1.4 percent more than what it handled in May 2016, and the highest import volume since August 2015, when the port handled 82,492 TEUs of imports, the port said.
   Imports account for 48 percent of containers shipped through the port. “Our import volume has been up four consecutive months,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “That’s encouraging as we head into the traditionally busy summer-fall peak season.”
   Overall volume, including imports, exports and empty containers, grew 2.2 percent during the first five months of 2017 compared to the same period last year.
   However, the port noted that the number of vessels that have called the port has decreased by 7 percent, but container volume is growing due to containerships of up to 14,000 TEUs calling the port weekly.
   Almost 76 percent of the Port of Oakland’s trade is with Asia, while the other 13 percent is with Europe, 5 percent with Australia and Oceania, and another 5 percent with other foreign economies.