Port of Oakland joins other California ports with positive first quarter
March container volume up 10 percent compared to same month last year
The Port of Oakland today reported a positive first quarter in its cargo volume.
The two mega-ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach released similar news earlier this week.
Through the end of March 2019, the port handled 612,151 twenty foot-long equivalent units (TEUs) compared to 587,356 during the same period in 2018. That represents a 4.2 percent increase.
Port spokesmen said that there has been “some concern” in the shipping industry that a recent import surge has cooled. This thrust was caused by shippers last year trying to get ahead of possible new tariffs affecting U.S.-China trade.
“Though the import rally has calmed down, we are still seeing a strong consumer demand in Northern California and Western Nevada,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “The Bay Area’s strong consumer-based economy has helped the Port of Oakland absorb the impact of the weakening rally better than other ports.”
As reported in LM, Oakland last month handled 213,972 twenty-foot containers compared to 193,341 in March 2018. That represents at 10.7 percent increase. Loaded exports also grew 7.6 percent last month compared to March 2018.
The port’s communication’s director, Mike Zampa, told LM in an interview that while he is encouraged to see a return to growth last month, all bets are off for now.
“We still remain uncertain on what happens before the commencement of peak season,” he said.
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