Imports up in June for fourth straight month at Port of Oakland

Exports decline due to strength of U.S. dollar

Oakland, CA - July 14, 2015: Containerized import volume increased in June for the fourth straight month at the Port of Oakland. The Port said today it handled the equivalent of 75,780 loaded 20-foot import containers last month. That was up 2.61 percent from June 2014. Oakland import volume has exceeded the previous year’s total in every month since March.

Export volume declined 7.56 percent in June from the previous year’s total, the Port said. It attributed the drop to continuing strength in the U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. goods more expensive overseas.

Overall volume in Oakland - including loaded and empty containers - declined 1 percent in June, the Port reported.

The Port said it shipped the equivalent of 50,000 empty 20-foot containers back to origins last month. That was down about 4,300 empties from May totals. It’s an indication that containers are beginning to balance globally after bunching at U.S. ports last winter, the Port said.