What trade war? Port of Oakland hits record

Facility sees its busiest November with imports up 15% over last year

Despite ongoing trade disputes between the Trump administration and other countries that have rattled markets, the Port of Oakland reported Friday it remains on pace for a record year with its busiest November ever that shattered an 11-yearold record.

Total volume — imports, exports and empty containers — was up 5 percent in the first 11 months of 2018, port officials said. If that trend holds, Oakland would set a new cargo volume record for the third straight year.

“We’re encouraged by our latest cargo statistics,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “At the same time, we remain cautious as we approach the new year with uncertainty.”

November imports were up 15 percent over the same period in 2017, with the equivalent of 83,364 loaded 20-foot import containers last month, beating an 11-year-old November record of 76,902 containers in 2007.

That followed the Oakland port’s busiest peak shipping season ever for imports from August through October. The port said it handled the equivalent of 250,686 20-foot import containers during those months, the traditional high-water mark for container shipping, which broke the previous peak season import record in 2017 of 233,825 containers.

The Port attributed the increased cargo volume to strong U.S. consumer spending and added that importers are rushing cargo into the U.S. in case new tariffs are imposed next year in the ongoing trade war with China. The twin influences supercharged the peak season, the port said, which is the time of year when U.S. retailers build inventories for holiday merchandising.

The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront,