The Port of Oakland has recorded 92,392 TEUs for loaded imports in July, a 31.4 per cent increase from the 70,334 TEUs in June.
This was also the highest monthly import total so far in 2025 as importers moved cargo early to get ahead of the announced 1 August tariff deadlines.
The lift was not limited to inbound cargo — full exports also rose, moving from 59,593 TEUs in June to 65,595 TEUs in July, an increase of 10.1 per cent.
Together, full TEUs totalled 157,987 for the month, up more than 21 per cent from June.
Vessel activity also reflected the uptick in demand.
Vessel calls at the port rose to 95 in July, up 23.4 per cent from 77 in June, as carriers added more stops to handle rising volume.
Average TEUs per vessel dipped slightly from 2,187 to 2,138 as additional ships spread out the container load.
Year-to-date (YTD), total TEUs through July stand at 1.34 million, keeping the port 1.9 per cent ahead of 2024’s pace. Loaded imports are tracking 3.5 per cent higher than last year, while loaded exports are up 0.3 per cent.
Port of Oakland Maritime Director, Bryan Brandes, said: “This kind of front-loading—where cargo owners accelerate shipments to avoid added costs—was clearly the driving force behind the month’s performance.
“The pending tariffs created a clear incentive for importers to push cargo through in advance, giving us a strong month across the board. As that front-loaded cargo works its way through the supply chain, we anticipate a more moderate pace in the months ahead.”
Last month, the Port of Oakland approved the advancement of its Turning Basins Widening Project, following certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) by the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners.
