Port of Oakland year-end container volume ends strong

Port of Oakland full import and export container volumes rose in December 2023, showing signs that cargo volume at Oakland is returning.

Full imports rose 16.4%, moving 76,347 TEUs (twenty-foot containers) in December 2023, compared to 65,566 TEUs in December 2022. This is the highest monthly total since July 2023.

Full exports also climbed 12.9%, registering 65,801 TEUs in December 2023 in contrast to 58,302 TEUs in December 2022.

“2023 finished strong. Carrier on-time performance has improved importer confidence and provided valuable vessel space for our agriculture exporters to move their products from Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “We anticipate a continued rebound in 2024 as we move on with our plans in modernizing the port and reducing emissions from our maritime operations.”

West coast ports are also seeing an increase in container activity due to shippers rerouting cargo originally destined to go through the Panama Canal. The drought in Panama is limiting vessel traffic to U.S. Gulf and East Coast ports through the canal.

Oakland ended 2023 with a total of 2,065,709 TEUs passing through the Port, down 11.6% from 2,337,607 TEUs in 2022. Full TEUs declined 10.1%, registering 1,574,444 TEUs in 2023, in contrast to 1,752,169 TEUs in 2022.

Empty imports dropped 9%, with 12,210 TEUs transiting Port facilities in December 2023, versus 13,419 TEUs in December 2022. Empty exports declined 15.9%, handling 21,655 TEUs in December 2022, compared to 25,741 TEUs in December 2022.