What’s in the box? Top commodities at Port of Oakland

Over $40 billion in goods move through Port annually

Oakland, CA – August 25, 2015: The Port of Oakland moves 99% of the containerized goods that come through Northern California. What’s in the Box? Anything from furniture to glassware to machinery is coming into the US through Oakland. Outbound, containers are filled with products like edible fruits and nuts, meat, and beverages.

Imports – Top commodities through Oakland in 2014
Source – Datamyne
TEU – Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit – one twenty-foot container = 1 TEU

1. 120,281 TEUs Furniture, bedding, and lamps
2.   47,738 TEUs Packaging to support the beverage industries
3.   42,060 TEUs Glass and Glassware
4.   39,899 TEUs Machinery
5.   38,816 TEUs Electrical machinery

Exports – Top commodities through Oakland in 2014

1. 145,890 TEUs Wood pulp (Used in making furniture, paper, and hardboard)
2.   80,756 TEUs Edible fruits and nuts
3.   53,747 TEUs Meat and fish
4.   40,214 TEUs Beverages, spirits and vinegar
5.   31,995 TEUs Grains and Seeds

Although people see huge ships every day going to and from the Port of Oakland, it’s probably not well understood as to what’s inside those colorful boxes. The Port of Oakland has created a video called “What’s in the box?” to explain what goods are transported through the seaport. Check out the new video here.

Where are the goods coming from and where are they going? Asia is the Port of Oakland’s major trading partner at 76 percent with Europe in second position at 14 percent. Five percent of the Port’s trade is with Australia, New Zealand and Oceania and the remaining five percent is with other countries.

The total value of imports and exports through the Oakland seaport is more than $40 billion annually.

For monthly container activity figures please go to: https://www.portofoakland.com/maritime/containerstats.aspx