September 05, 2025
Port of Oakland container volume surged in July
The Port of Oakland's July container volume marked a strong rebound from June, with volumes climbing sharply as importers moved cargo early to get ahead of the announced August 7 tariff deadlines.
Loaded imports jumped from 70,334 TEUs (twenty-foot containers) in June to 92,392 TEUs in July, a 31.4% increase and the highest monthly import total so far in 2025.
"This kind of front-loading-where cargo owners accelerate shipments to avoid added costs-was clearly the driving force behind the month's performance," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes.
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%. Together, full TEUs totaled 157,987 for the month, up more than 21% from June. Vessel activity also reflected the uptick in demand.
95 vessels called the Port in July, up from 77 in June-a 23.4% increase-as carriers added more port calls to accommodate the additional volume. Average TEUs per vessel edged down slightly from 2,187 in June to 2,138 in July, a natural shift when more ships are sharing the load.
Source: Port of Oakland