Container traffic at the Port of Oakland surged in July, rebounding sharply from June as importers accelerated shipments ahead of the August 1 tariff deadline. Loaded imports jumped 31.4%, from 70,334 TEUs in June to 92,392 TEUs, marking the highest monthly total so far in 2025.
“This front-loading clearly drove the month’s strong performance,” said Bryan Brandes, Port of Oakland Maritime Director.
Exports also rose, climbing 10.1% to 65,595 TEUs. Overall, full container volumes reached 157,987 TEUs, up more than 21% from June. Vessel activity mirrored the uptick, with 95 ships calling the port, 23.4% more than the previous month. Average TEUs per vessel dipped slightly, reflecting the broader distribution of cargo across more ships.
Year-to-date, the port has handled 1,346,022 TEUs, keeping it 1.9% ahead of 2024. Loaded imports are 3.5% higher than last year, while exports are up 0.3%.
“The pending tariffs encouraged importers to move cargo early,” Brandes noted. “As this front-loaded cargo clears the supply chain, we expect a steadier pace in the months ahead.”
