The number of total full TEUs that Port of Oakland terminals moved last month was down significantly compared to May of 2022, newly released data from the port show. Oakland posted a 22.7% drop, with 134,398 TEUs.
The statistics, which were released June 22, also show that full imports fell 28.2% in June, with 70,887 TEUs processed by the port, versus 98,792 TEUs in May 2022.
“Importers continued to favor East Coast and Gulf Coast ports last month due to the remaining uncertainty around contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA),” the Oakland seaport explained in a June 22 statement, days after a new labor deal was reached.
“Last week’s positive news on the tentative agreement between the ILWU and PMA will restore shipper’s confidence in West Coast ports as they are the most efficient gateway for goods moving between Asia and the U.S.,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes commented.
Full exports last month registered a 15.4% decline, with 63,511 TEUs transiting port facilities, compared to 75,067 TEUs in May 2022. They are down 9% year-to-date compared to the same period in 2022, Oakland data show.
The port said that exporters may be moving less volume than they typically do, since shipping schedules have been less reliable than prior to the pandemic. Also, consumers may be more cautious about spending with rising food costs. Additionally, there is a long-term trend of shipping less U.S. recyclables to China.
Additional Port of Oakland container volume data is available at: https://www.oaklandseaport.com/performance/facts-figures.
