Oakland Port Refrigerated Exports Jump 20%

The Port of Oakland’s refrigerated exports have jumped 20% in past year. The Port said it handled 119,756 20-foot containers of refrigerated exports from August 2018 through July 2019. That was up from 99,740 in the same period a year ago.

"The figures reinforce Oakland’s position as the largest exporter of refrigerated cargo in containers among U.S. ports," said a press release from the container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay.

“Our business partners are investing to meet increased overseas demand for U.S. farm goods,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll.  “When you couple their expertise with our infrastructure, it makes a compelling case for running the transportation cold chain through Oakland.”

The Port said its fastest-growing refrigerated exports were beef and pork products from the U.S. Midwest. Beef exports have increased 45 percent in the past year. Pork volume is up 38 percent in that same period.

The Port attributed its growth in refrigerated cargo to strong consumer demand, increased U.S. farm production and Oakland’s location on the eastern edge of the Pacific Rim.  Oakland is the final stop for Asia-bound container ships leaving the U.S. That makes it the fastest gateway to Asia, the Port’s primary market, for shippers of perishables.

The Port of Oakland is considered one of the nation’s top gateways for refrigerated agricultural products. That’s in part due to its location near California’s fertile Central Valley. The Port relies on rail connections to tap Midwest agricultural exporters.