April Sees 14.7% Decline in Container Traffic at Port of Oakland Compared to March

[By: Port of oakland]

In April, the Port of Oakland processed 185,499 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), which is a notable 14.7% drop from March’s figures. This decline stems from market unpredictability and a decrease in export demand, largely due to recent changes in U.S. trade policies.

Though, looking at the bigger picture, the first four months of 2025 saw a total handling of 787,028 TEUs—up by 4.3% compared to last year’s numbers during the same timeframe.

“While container volumes have held steady early this year, uncertainty and elevated tariffs have impacted our shipments from China,” shared bryan Brandes, Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland. “We expect May to mirror April’s performance but are optimistic about a rebound in June.” He emphasized that maintaining reliable service and collaborating closely with partners remains crucial as market conditions shift.

Imports
In April 2025 alone, full imports reached 78,965 TEUs. This figure represents an increase of 4.8% compared to April last year but shows a notable decline of 10.2% from March’s totals.

The surge in March—where imports hit their peak for the year at 87,896 teus—was fueled by speculation regarding impending tariffs announced by government officials. With nearly half (45%) of Oakland’s imports coming from China, these new duties implemented in early April are likely to impact incoming shipments more noticeably starting next month.

Exports
On the export side,ther was a slight dip as well; full exports fell by 4.2%, totaling just 64,723 TEUs this past April compared to last year’s count of 67,566 TEUs for the same month—a drop attributed mainly to ongoing market uncertainties.

A mere fraction (7%) of these exports head towards china; though, global concerns such as retaliatory tariffs and fluctuating demand are affecting how businesses book shipments—especially within agricultural sectors like fresh produce and dairy products.Interestingly enough though—despite overall declines—certain segments like refrigerated goods continue thriving thanks to Oakland’s robust cold chain capabilities during this spring season.

The volume for empty containers also took a hit on both ends: empty imports fell by an alarming rate of over eleven percent year-on-year while dropping twenty-two percent since March alone—with only about fourteen thousand units processed this past month versus sixteen thousand last year or eighteen thousand previously recorded just one month prior! Empty exports decreased too; down six point eight percent with around twenty-seven thousand units handled recently against nearly thirty thousand during April ’24—a trend reflecting strategic adjustments aimed at balancing cargo flows effectively across operations.

You can find more detailed statistics on container volumes through this link: https://www.oaklandseaport.com/performance/facts-figures/