Containerized import volume increased in June for the fourth straight month at Californian Port of Oakland, the port said in its monthly report on business operation.
The port handled the equivalent of 75,780 loaded 20-foot import containers last month, up 2.61 percent from June 2014. Oakland import volume has exceeded the previous year’s total in every month since March.
According to the released figures, export volume declined 7.56 percent in June from the previous year’s total. The fall was attributed to 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 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. the port said that this is an indication that containers are beginning to balance globally after bunching at U.S. ports last winter.
Total cargo volumes for the month of June fell 2 percent at the Port of Los Angeles when compared to the same period last year, with recorded declines in both imports and exports.
Imports at the port recorded a drop of 4 percent to nearly 369,000 container units in June whereas export volumes declined 11 percent to about 144,000 container units.
The port shipped 9 percent more of empty containers amounting to nearly 210,000 units.
-Source: worldmaritimenews.com