Port of Oakland Sees Robust Growth in Container Volumes

• The Port of Oakland reported a 10% year-to-date increase in total cargo volume from January to November 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
• Full imports rose by 13.1%, and full exports increased by 8.5% in November 2024 over the previous year.
• Empty imports declined 14.8%, while empty exports grew by 14.7%.
• Agricultural exports contributed significantly to the growth in outbound cargo volumes.

As reported by Port of Oakland, the port’s container business demonstrated remarkable growth, with total cargo volume increasing by 10% year-to-date (January–November 2024) compared to 2023. This progress is attributed to rising import and export activity, as well as strong agricultural exports bolstering outbound shipments.

Port of Oakland Manager of Business Development and International Marketing, Carolyn Almquist, expressed optimism about the continued growth, anticipating a return to pre-pandemic baseline cargo volumes.

November 2024 Performance Highlights

In November 2024, the Port achieved its 13th consecutive month of loaded container growth, showcasing strong performance in key metrics:

• Full Imports: Handled 80,580 TEUs, a 13.1% increase compared to 71,258 TEUs in November 2023.
• Full Exports: Processed 66,619 TEUs, up 8.5% from 61,390 TEUs in November last year.
• Empty Imports: Declined 14.8% to 12,028 TEUs, compared to 14,118 TEUs in November 2023.
• Empty Exports: Increased by 14.7% to 22,495 TEUs, up from 19,613 TEUs in November 2023.

Agricultural Exports Driving Growth

Agricultural exports played a vital role in enhancing outbound cargo volumes, further strengthening the port’s position as a critical hub for international trade.

Positive Outlook for 2024

The Port of Oakland remains optimistic about sustaining this upward trend through the year’s end, as it continues to rebuild towards pre-pandemic cargo levels while maintaining robust growth across multiple categories.