The Port of Oakland reported a 14.7% drop in container volume this April compared to March, with a total handling of 185,499 TEUs. The decrease is attributed to the vagaries of the market and a softening in export demands, spurred by recent changes to U.S. trade policies, as per the Port of Oakland.
Despite April's slump, the cumulative volume for the first four months of 2025 stood at 787,028 TEUs, reflecting a 4.3% growth compared to last year's timeframe. In a statement to the Port of Oakland's news section, Maritime Director Bryan Brandes expressed that while "Container volume remained stable during the first four months of 2025; however, uncertainty and high tariff impacted our China volume." Brandes also projected that May might mirror April's figures, but hoped for a strong recovery come June.
Looking at imports, there was a 10.2% fall in April compared to March, landing at 78,965 TEUs. This followed a spike in March that saw the highest monthly total of the year at 87,896 TEUs, driven by anticipation of newly announced tariffs. Since 45% of Oakland’s imports come from China, the onset of new duties early in the month further impacts inbound flows, acknowledged more significantly in the May data.
Export activity also declined, with a 4.2% drop from April 2024. Oakland processed 64,723 TEUs in April 2025, a 15% decrease from March's 76,157 TEUs. According to the Port, this export dip can be credited to market uncertainty. The Port's specialized segments, like refrigerated commodities, have improved due to Oakland's robust cold chain capacity, particularly crucial during the spring export season.
Empty container movements in both directions also diminished. Empty imports saw an 11.7% year-over-year decrease with 14,438 TEUs handled in April 2025. Similarly, empty exports shrank by 6.8%, resulting in a total of 27,374 TEUs processed. This downturn in volume is indicative of strategic shifts to balance the flow of cargo more efficiently.
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