The Port of Oakland experienced a decline in container volume in June 2025, a trend attributed by port officials to a broader “market recalibration” driven by softening demand and ongoing tariff uncertainty. This dip follows a period of overall positive year-to-date growth.
June Volume Decline
In June 2025, the Port of Oakland handled 168,460 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), marking a 10.1% decline from May 2025 and a 12.8% decrease from June 2024, when 193,158 TEUs were processed.
Bryan Brandes, the Port of Oakland’s Maritime Director, emphasized that this is not merely a seasonal dip but rather a “market recalibration.” He noted that shippers and carriers are adjusting their supply chain timing and routing decisions in response to evolving global trade conditions and policies.
Mixed Year-to-Date Performance
Despite the significant decline in June, the year-to-date container volume for 2025 remains slightly higher than the same period last year. Total volume registered 1.14 million TEUs, representing a modest 0.6% increase over June 2024.
A closer look at the components reveals:
- Loaded imports were up 1.5% year-to-date. However, in June alone, loaded imports totaled 70,334 TEUs, an 11.3% decline from May and a 16.3% drop from June 2024. This suggests importers are reacting to shifting trade policies and a moderation in consumer demand.
- Loaded exports experienced a 1.3% decrease year-to-date. In June, loaded exports registered 59,593 TEUs, an 11.5% month-over-month decline and a 10.3% decrease from June 2024. This reduction is attributed to continued weakness in global markets.
Empty Container Movements
Empty container movements showed contrasting trends:
- Empty imports (containers received empty) saw a modest 0.6% rise, with 10,400 TEUs handled in June 2025 compared to 10,337 TEUs in June 2024.
- Empty exports (containers shipped empty) declined more substantially, by 13.1%, handling 28,133 TEUs in June 2025 versus 32,356 TEUs in June 2024.
The Port reported 77 vessel calls in June 2025, a decrease from 87 in May and 86 in June 2024. However, the average TEUs per vessel increased by 1.6% from May. This indicates that carriers are consolidating freight volume across fewer sailings, aligning their service schedules to achieve fuller ships in response to the broader hesitancy in global trade. This trend reflects a strategic adaptation by shipping lines to optimize efficiency amidst current market uncertainties.
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Source: Port of Oakland
