Press Release: Port of Oakland Broke All-Time Cargo Handling Record in 2014

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Port of Oakland Broke All-Time Cargo Handling Record in 2014
Loaded import containers up 20% in December

 

Oakland, Calif.–Jan. 13, 2015–Cargo volume has reached an all-time high at the Port of Oakland. The Port said today that it handled the equivalent of 2.394 million 20-foot freight containers in 2014. That broke the record of 2.391 million boxes moved in 2006. A 20% surge in December loaded import containers contributed to the record performance.

“An unprecedented series of events has brought us to this point,” said Port Maritime Director, John Driscoll. “It’s our job now to efficiently manage the growth.”

The Port said three factors have contributed to the cargo surge:

  • Stronger U.S. demand for Asian manufactured goods;
  • Its own marketing efforts; and
  • Cargo diversions from congested Southern California ports.

A freight backlog at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has rerouted thousands of containers to Oakland. Last month Oakland handled 74,356 loaded import containers. That was the most since May 2014.

The big buildup has temporarily slowed cargo throughput. A labor dispute between waterfront employers and dockworkers is magnifying the slowdown.

Ten-to-fifteen ships are anchored in San Francisco Bay daily awaiting berths at Oakland marine terminals. Some truckers report waits of several hours to pick up cargo. The condition is expected to persist until labor and management agree on a new contract.

The Port of Oakland said overall container volume – imports and exports – increased 2% in 2014. Import volume for the year increased 5.29%. The latter figure is important because the Port has made import growth a strategic business objective.

About the Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport and Oakland International Airport. The Port’s jurisdiction includes 20 miles of waterfront from the Bay Bridge through Oakland International Airport. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

Media Contact:
Robert Bernardo
Port Communications Manager
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1401
rbernardo@portoakland.com

Marilyn Sandifur
Port Spokesperson
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1193
msandifur@portoakland.com

 

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