The Port of Oakland in July saw volumes of containerized cargoes rise 3.6 percent to 217,346 TEUs compared with the same month a year ago as surging empty container movements offset declines in loaded imports and exports.
Laden import volumes at the Northern California port were relatively steady, slipping just 0.6 percent year-over-year to 84,301 TEUs, while loaded exports tumbled 7.3 percent to 69,335 TEUs for the month.
Throughput of empty containers, on the other hand, jumped 26.9 percent from July 2017, with inbound empties climbing 4.2 percent to 16,038 TEUs and outbound rising 36.9 percent to 47,690 TEUs.
Through the first seven months of 2018, the Port of Oakland has handled a total of 1.43 million TEUs, a 2.5 percent increase from the same 2017 period.
Increases in loaded imports — up 1.8 percent so far this year at 544,446 TEUs — and empty container moves — up 12.1 percent to 362,539 TEUs — have been offset in part by a 2.6 percent drop in loaded export volumes to 522,012 TEUs.