OAKLAND: The Port of Oakland saw a record level of loaded shipping container volume in 2016, despite having consolidated its number of shipping terminals earlier in the year. The port said Monday it handled the equivalent of 1.83 million loaded 20-foot containers in 2016, a 7.6 percent increase from 2015, surpassing the previous record of 1.82 million 20-footers set in 2013. According to port officials, a year-long growth clip in exports — particularly agricultural products — has driven the overall increase in cargo volume, as well as an increase in imports. Top export commodities from the port include wood pulp and waste paper and agricultural products, including fruits, nuts, meat, cereals and beverages and spirits. Agricultural products make up 40 percent of the port’s total export volume.
The port has attributed much of its export growth to demand from Asia for high-quality farm products. Its top five export destinations are China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. While other ports across the country skew toward imports, Oakland’s position near California’s growing regions like the Napa and Central valleys, as well as its position as a departure for Asian-bound ships, help boost its export business. Export volume jumped 10.5 percent in 2016, the port said. Exports were up 13.5 percent in December, marking four consecutive months of double-digit growth. Import volume increased a more modest 4.7 percent in 2016, and December imports were up 6.1 percent.
Port officials said the record-high cargo volume is important because loaded container volume is a key metric used for calculating fees at the port. The port leases its terminals to operating companies, and in most cases, lease payments are based on the number of loaded containers handled. The record volume also comes after the port closed one of its busiest terminals, Outer Harbor Terminals LLC, early in 2016 after the terminal operator filed for bankruptcy and left Oakland. Despite consolidating from five to four terminals, the high volume of cargo that was spread over the existing terminals boosted business at the port overall.
