Port of Oakland September container volume drops

The Port of Oakland’s total loaded container volume declined by 7.9% in September compared to September 2021. Last month 132,599 loaded TEUs (twenty-foot containers) passed through the Port, compared to 143,991 in September 2021. Loaded imports dropped by 4.9%. The Port handled 77,803 TEUs last month, compared to 81,789 in September 2021.

Year-to-date full imports were down by 5% compared to the first 9 months of 2021.

Retail inventories remain high, weakening demand for imports. Demand is expected to lag for the next several months.

Loaded export containers experienced a 12% decline, with 54,756 TEUs passing through the Port in September compared to 62,203 TEUs in September 2021.

Ocean carriers operating out of the Port of Oakland have yet to re-instate many scheduled services. Exporters are less inclined to book cargo on ships that will not arrive on a predictable schedule.

Supply chain issues that are still dampening total cargo volume growth at Oakland include:

• Increased import dwell time causing port congestion,

• Continued U.S. West Coast supply chain bottlenecks in all modes of transportation, and

• Lack of capacity to meet demand at Western regional warehouses.

Positive growth was seen in empty containers passing through the seaport, with a 38.3% increase in empty exports and a 23.9% uptick in empty imports.