Port of Oakland containerised fresh fruit and vegetable shipments have jumped 36 per cent since 2013, according to data released today (25 April), with the port noting that further gains are likely.
About US$6.1bn worth of containerised fruit and vegetable shipments moved through Oakland in 2017, the Port said, or 135,000 TEUs – the port’s volume was less than 80,000 containers just four years ago.
“This is high-value cargo that has to be handled carefully and shipped promptly,” said Port of Oakland maritime director John Driscoll. “Growth in our volume would indicate that we’re doing the job effectively.'
Exports accounted for 103,000 containers of Oakland’s 2017 fresh fruit and vegetable cargo volume, a 44 per cent increase from four years ago, while fruit and vegetable imports jumped 16 percent.
The port said oranges and grapes were among top exports, with Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong the leading export markets.
Oakland said it expected fruit and vegetable shipments to grow because of it’s improving the ability to handle temperature-controlled cargo.
Refrigerated export containers are now being delivered principally at night to Oakland’s largest marine terminal. That speeds up handling and wait-time for sensitive cargo by avoiding busier dayside operations.
Oakland’s second-largest terminal is adding hundreds of electrical plug-in spaces for refrigerated containers this summer, meaning it can safely store more perishable cargo until the containers are loaded on vessels.
