Port of Oakland's agriculture export tonnage has grown 233% in five years
That’s the message a Port executive will delivered last week to members of the California Trucking Association. “Agricultural commodities now account for 53 percent of our total export tonnage, and California growers are producing the lion’s share of that amount.”
Ms. Frisher said that in 2016, farm exports shipped from Oakland totaled 3.9 million metric tons. That was up from 1.2 million metric tons in 2012. She added that California producers accounted for 70 percent of agricultural exports last year. Ms. Frisher listed three reasons for the surge in farm exports:
Asia's growing middle class is clamoring for high-quality US farm products. Oakland is the last West Coast port of call before ships head back to Asia. That means perishables spend less time on the ocean if they’re loaded in Oakland, which extends shelf life. Oakland is the closest port for growers in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Salinas and Napa valleys who export to Asia.
Fruits and nuts are the leading agricultural commodity shipped from Oakland, Ms. Frisher said. Japan, China and South Korea are the top three trading partners for Oakland’s agricultural exports.
Oakland reported a 10.5 percent increase in total export volume last year. Exports accounted for 53 percent of the Port’s overall containerized cargo volume. Imports made up the rest. Oakland is one of the only U.S. ports weighted more heavily toward exports.
Ms. Frisher said 2017 could be another year of export growth – especially in agricultural commodities. Heavy rains this winter have eased five years of drought, she said. The result should be bountiful harvests next fall.
Mike Zampa
Port of Oakland
Tel: 510 627 1565
[email protected]
www.portofoakland.com
