Port Traffic Metrics: Oakland, Port Everglades
Port of Oakland Container Exports at a Three-Year High
Port of Oakland container export volume reached a three-year high in October of 89,473 TEUs. That was up from a year ago, the most for any October since 2013 and the fourth highest monthly export total in the port’s history.
The figures cap a yearlong rally that lifted Oakland exports to a level 10 percent above last year’s and reinforced the port’s standing as a leading gateway for U.S. exports.
"Increased export volume is nothing new – we’ve reported gains in nine of the first 10 months of the year," said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. "But the amount of volume growth highlights just how strong this rally is."
The port said a softer U.S. dollar and healthy agricultural harvests helped drive export gains. Growers in California’s Central, Napa and Salinas valleys depend on Oakland to reach markets in Asia.
Other October data show gains from a year ago of 2.0 for import laden containers and 11.4 percent for exports and imports overall.
Port Everglades Exceeds One Million TEUs Third Consecutive Year
Preliminary data for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, indicate Port Everglades’ container count crossed the 1.0-million-TEU threshold for the third consecutive year.
The yearend tally of nearly 1.04 million TEUs was down 2.0 percent from 1.06 million in FY 2014-15 but 3.0 percent higher than the 1.01 million handled in FY 2013-14. Port Everglades’ TEU throughput jumped nearly 18 percent from FY2011 to FY2016.
Furthermore, Port Everglades this year posted its best September ever with 90,641 TEUs compared to 80,550 TEUs in 2015.
Other Port Everglades data for FY 2015-16 show increases from FY 2014-15 of 13 percent for bulk and breakbulk cargo (to 1.76 million short tons) and 3.6 percent for petroleum throughput (to 121.1 million barrels).
Major milestones for Port Everglades this past year include renewing long-term agreements with three major terminal operators - Florida International Terminal, LLC (FIT), King Ocean Services Limited (Cayman Islands) Inc., and Crowley Liner Services.
Boding well for FY 2016-17 was the inaugural sailing November 7 from Port Everglades of NYK Line’s "Magellan Straits Express" South America Ro/Ro service. The service calls ports in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Perú, Ecuador, Panamá, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and México before returning to the South Florida seaport.
Looking forward, the State of Florida has allocated more than $125.1 million in Florida state grants to Port Everglades' expansion efforts over the next five years.
On the waterside, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a long-awaited economic and environmental report that cleared the way for Port Everglades to begin the pre-construction engineering and design phase to deepen and widen its channels from 42 feet to 48-50 feet.
In addition, the port's Southport Turning Notch Extension project will lengthen the existing deep-water turn-around area for cargo ships from 900 feet to 2,400 feet, resulting in up to five new cargo berths. The port also will be installing up to six new Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes at Southport.