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Port of Oakland cargo volume hit all-time high in 2018

[ January 16, 2019   //   ]

Port of Oakland container volume reached an all-time high in 2018, according to recently released port data. The Port said it handled the equivalent of 2.55 million 20-foot containers last year. That was up 5.2% from 2017 volume. It was the second straight year of record volume in Oakland, the Port said.
According to Port figures, 2018 import cargo volume increased 5% while exports declined 3.5%. The volume of empty containers returned to origin destinations for future import loads increased 19.7%.

The Port said multiple influences were at work in 2018 shaping cargo flows, including:
•
• A China-U.S. trade dispute that prompted shippers to accelerate import orders ahead of anticipated tariffs;
• A strong dollar that made U.S. exports costlier overseas; and
• A buildup of empty containers in the U.S. that required repositioning to Asia because of the import surge.

“Last year was the busiest one ever at the Port for a variety of reasons,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “Our objective now is to build on this performance to grow import and export volume.”

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