Port of Oakland Reports 163,254 TEUs in February, with Exports Continuing to Outpace Imports

February throughput reflects a smaller month, while Oakland’s export profile remains a defining feature

The Port of Oakland handled 163,254 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in February, as exports continued to outperform imports. TEUs are a standard measure used to compare containerized cargo volumes across ports and months.

The February total followed a stronger January, when the port reported 195,897 TEUs and described import gains as the primary driver of early-year growth. In January, loaded imports were reported at 85,457 TEUs, while loaded exports totaled 64,510 TEUs. Total imports including empties were 100,482 TEUs, and total exports including empties were 95,415 TEUs. The port also reported 88 vessel calls in January, with average container exchange per vessel at about 2,226 TEUs.

How Oakland’s trade mix helps explain the export-import gap

Oakland’s container business has long been shaped by outbound cargo, especially agricultural and other export commodities that move through Northern California’s logistics network. In recent years, port updates have repeatedly pointed to exports—along with related empty-container flows—as a stabilizing factor when import demand softens.

On an annual basis, the port reported that calendar year 2025 ended essentially flat year over year, with 2,253,976 TEUs handled. For December 2025 alone, the port reported 179,580 TEUs, with loaded imports down year over year and loaded exports up year over year—an example of the uneven trade conditions that have characterized recent cycles.

What the month-to-month shift can signal for shippers and local supply chains

Month-to-month changes in total TEUs are influenced by shipping schedules, the timing of retail inventories, agricultural seasons, and the availability and repositioning of empty containers. Oakland’s January report emphasized reliability and operational continuity, including the role of rail volumes and inland connections, as supply chains adjusted to changing conditions.

While February’s 163,254 TEUs represents a step down from January’s total, the continuation of exports outperforming imports aligns with patterns the port has highlighted across multiple months: Oakland can see stable export movement even when inbound volumes vary.

• February total: 163,254 TEUs.

• January context: 195,897 TEUs; loaded imports 85,457 TEUs; loaded exports 64,510 TEUs.

• Year-end baseline: 2,253,976 TEUs in calendar year 2025; December 2025 total 179,580 TEUs.

Container totals combine loaded and empty units. Shifts in empty-container movements can reflect repositioning for future trade flows as well as near-term demand changes.