Port of Oakland reports September container volume growth

The Port of Oakland recorded an increase in container traffic in September 2026, supported by higher loaded imports and exports, although total volumes for the first nine months of the year remained below 2025 levels.

The California port handled 188,517 TEUs during September, an increase of 5.4% compared with the same month last year. Throughput was also 8.5% higher than in August 2026.

Combined loaded container traffic reached 146,274 TEUs, representing year-over-year growth of 7.7%, while empty container movements declined.

Loaded imports and exports increase

Loaded imports reached 82,975 TEUs in September, up 9.6% from a year earlier, following declines recorded in July and August.

Loaded exports also increased, reaching 63,299 TEUs, a rise of 5.3% compared with September 2025. The port reported that exports recorded their third consecutive month of month-over-month growth.

Empty container movements totalled 42,243 TEUs, down 2.0% year over year.

The port also recorded 88 vessel calls during the month, representing an increase of 7.3% compared with September 2025.

The September results marked an improvement in both directions of loaded cargo movement, with imports and exports contributing to the overall increase in throughput.

Nine-month throughput remains below 2025 levels

Despite the September increase, cumulative container traffic at the Port of Oakland remained lower than a year earlier.

During the January–September 2026 period, the port handled 1,656,999 TEUs, a decline of 3.5% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Loaded imports totalled 706,177 TEUs, down 3.1%, while loaded exports reached 590,434 TEUs, an increase of 0.7%.

Combined loaded container volumes declined 1.4% over the nine-month period, while empty container movements fell 10.4% to 360,388 TEUs.

The figures indicate that September’s improvement has not yet reversed the decline recorded in cumulative container throughput during 2026.