“The Port of Oakland is a major international gateway for California’s and the nation’s farmers,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “Agricultural exports are especially important commodities for our Port’s business. In any given year, agricultural products comprise between 37% and 45% of total exports from Oakland.”
For seven years running, Oakland has topped the list of U.S. ports for TEUs of international reefer exports. In 2023, the overall commercial worth of reefer exports passing through Oakland hit $7 billion. Over the past seven years, the Port, along with its collaborators, has made significant investments in infrastructure for agricultural and refrigerated goods. These investments, which include Cool Port and PCC Logistics warehouses, have enabled a substantial increase in the shipment of agricultural, refrigerated, and frozen products via the Port.
| Category | Volume (TEUs) | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Edible Fruits and Nuts | 90,461 TEUs | $3.4 billion |
| Frozen Proteins | 49,552 TEUs | $2.95 billion |
| Dairy Products | 19,316 TEUs | $680 million |
| Oil & Seeds | 16,264 TEUs | $274 million |
| Wine, Spirits, Beverages | 15,751 TEUs | $467 million |
| Cereals | 13,900 TEUs | $212 million |
| Prep Vegetables, Fruit, Nuts, Other | 11,822 TEUs | $229 million |
| Sugars and Sugar Confectionary | 11,305 TEUs | $125 million |
| Edible Vegetables, Roots & Tubers | 4,107 TEUs | $84 million |
| Prep Cereal, Flour, Starch | 3,421 TEUs | $52 million |
The strategic positioning of the Oakland Seaport, close to California’s Central Valley, combined with its direct shipping lines to Asia and sophisticated on-location cold storage capabilities, cements its status as a premier export center for the United States. Roughly 90% of the area’s agricultural produce passes through the Port’s marine terminals on its journey to global markets.