The Port of Oakland imported and exported about 2.3 million TEUs of container cargo in 2025
Container volume at the Port of Oakland increased by 43% from 1998 to 2025
Net exports at the Port of Oakland peaked at around 312k TEUs in 2003
Introduction
What quantity of goods are entering or exiting the Bay Area by sea?
Seaports play a crucial role in the global economy, serving as gateways for billions of dollars in goods each year. This indicator covers the Port of Oakland, the only major container terminal in the Bay Area. Seaport activity is measured by the number of shipping containers handled, expressed in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Regional Performance
The Port of Oakland is the Bay Area’s primary container seaport.
Container volumes at the Port of Oakland rose rapidly during the early 2000s, fell during the Great Recession, then recovered to about 2.3 million TEUs per year for most of the 2010s. After peaking at more than 2.5 million TEUs in 2018, volumes have been gradually declining, punctuated by a steeper dip in 2022–23 during post-COVID economic and supply chain turmoil. As of 2025, the Port of Oakland handled 2.3 million TEUs.
Exports accounted for 58% of all container volume moving through the Port of Oakland in 2003, compared with 50% in 2025. Even so, the Port of Oakland exports a larger share of loaded cargo than most U.S. ports, reflecting its role as a major gateway for California agricultural exports.
The Port of Oakland imported and exported about 2.5 million TEUs of container cargo in 2018, the highest annual volume on record
of loaded containers passing through the Port of Oakland in 2025 were headed outbound
Sources & Methodology
Container volumes include both loaded (full) and unloaded (empty) containers moving through the Port of Oakland, covering both imports and exports. Only complete calendar years are included; the current year is excluded until it finishes.
Port of Oakland
1998-2025