The Port of Portland, a premiere auto gateway, is a leader on the U.S. West Coast for auto exports.
In 2016, more than 50,000 exports moved through Portland. When you combine imports and exports, a total of 291,000 vehicles rolled through Port’s terminals to foreign markets and from domestic manufacturers. The numbers, compiled in the Port’s annual year-end report, represent an 11 percent increase over 2015.
“With our proximity to Asia, Portland has become a leading auto distribution hub,” said Keith Leavitt, the Port’s chief commercial officer. “We’ve seen significant growth in exports since 2012 and expect that positive trend to continue in 2017.”
American-made cars are shipped by rail from assembly plants to the Port’s docks, where vehicles are driven on “ro-ro” ships (roll-on/roll-off) bound for China and other parts of the Far East. Many imports such as Hyundais, Toyotas, and Hondas make their first stop in Portland before being shipped to dealerships across the region.
The Port’s auto story can be traced back to 1953 with the import of Volkswagens through Terminal 1. Since then, well-over 11 million vehicles have come through Port facilities.
“Vehicle imports and exports provide more than 600 direct local jobs for dockworkers, processors and others working in distribution and transportation throughout the supply chain,” Leavitt said. “Each vehicle imported brings an estimated economic benefit of $275 to the region.”
The Port and tenant Auto Warehousing Company recently secured state grant funding for a $7 million expansion of auto handling facilities in the Rivergate Industrial District near Terminal 6. Plans call for AWC to develop a new, 18.9-acre storage and staging yard to support the continued growth of export vehicles.