The equivalent of 2.42 million 20-foot containers were handled at the Port of Oakland in 2017, as the U.S. West Coast port surpassed its previous record of 2.39 million containers set in 2014.
Strong import numbers helped the port to break another two of its cargo records in 2017, with 919,523 loaded import containers and 1.85 million combined imports and exports.
Overall, Port of Oakland’s imports increased 4 percent in 2017 over 2016 totals, while December imports rose 6.4 percent over the same month in 2016. The port attributed the import rally to a strong U.S. economy and increasing consumer demand for retail products.
“Our record-setting 2017 has set the stage for the future,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “With new development projects already underway, we expect to increase our capacity and drive greater volume.”
The port said it expects Cool Port Oakland – a 280,000 square-foot temperature-controlled distribution center – to open late summer. It projects that the clearinghouse for agricultural exports will handle about 30,000 containers full of chilled and frozen meat products annually.
The port said work on its 440,000-square-foot Seaport Logistics Complex could begin by spring.