The Port of Oakland’s refrigerated exports increased by 20% in the past 12 months, according to its latest financial results.
In a statement, the Port said its strategic bet on temperature-controlled cargo is paying off.
The Port said it handled 119,756 20-foot containers of refrigerated exports from August 2018 through July 2019.
The Port also said its fastest-growing refrigerated exports were beef and pork products from the US Midwest. Beef exports have increased by 45% in the past year. Pork volume is up 38 percent in that same period.
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 US ports.
The port believes that 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.
Indeed, Oakland is the final stop for Asia-bound container ships leaving the U.S. It is, therefore, the fastest gateway to Asia, its primary market, for shippers of perishables.
Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said, “Our business partners are investing to meet increased overseas demand for U.S. farm goods. When you combine their expertise with our infrastructure, it makes a compelling case for running the transportation cold chain through Oakland.
The Port has taken steps this decade to strengthen its foothold in cold chain logistics including developing new distribution capability, extending operating hours to ease delivery of export containers to the Port for overseas shipment and installing hundreds of additional electrical outlets to plugin refrigerated containers awaiting vessel loading.
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