Peak season is off to a record start at the Port of Oakland. The Port said that it handled the equivalent of 85,166 loaded 20-foot import containers last month. It was the best August in the Port’s 91-year history.
The Port’s record performance signaled a strong start to the peak shipping season. The August-through-October period is traditionally the highwater mark for container shipping. It’s the time of year when U.S. retailers stock shelves for holiday merchandising.
“We’re encouraged by the solid start to peak season, but there’s still uncertainty in the trade environment,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “Let’s see what the next few months bring.”
Oakland’s August import volume was up 9.2 percent over August 2017. The previous record for August imports was set in 2015 with 82,492 TEUs. The Port attributed the gains to strong U.S. consumer spending at the beginning of peak season.
For the first eight months of 2018, Oakland’s total cargo volume – which includes imports, exports, and empty containers, is up 3.3 percent. If the trend holds, the Port would break its all-time cargo volume record for the third consecutive year.
