‘A market recalibration’: Port of Oakland sees sharp drop in traffic amid tariff uncertainty

Cargo containers sit onboard the Gunde Maersk at the Port of Oakland on Jan. 20, 2025. While the port saw a slight increase in shipping volume year-over-year, container traffic fell 12.6% between May and June 2025 — a decline that officials attribute to tariff uncertainty. (Tim Ereneta/Flickr, CC BY-NC)

There was a noticeable slowdown in shipping containers moving through the Port of Oakland in June compared to May, but overall volume in 2025 remained slightly higher than it was in 2024 through the first half of the year.

In its latest monthly data report, the Port of Oakland said there was a 10.1% decline in the number of 20-foot containers, known as TEUs, moving in and out of the port in June compared to May. The report also said that the month of June this year saw 12.8% fewer containers moving through than June 2024.

There were about 130,000 full containers and about 38,500 empty containers that moved into or out of the port during the month. That total of roughly 160,000 containers was far fewer — by 12.6% — than the roughly 183,000 that came through in May.

Port officials and major shipping companies are continuing to deal with uncertainty around tariff rates that the Trump administration has threatened to set while repeatedly delaying or changing the proposed rates, including for China, a major origin and destination for goods moving to and from the Port of Oakland.

“This is not a seasonal dip, but a market recalibration,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “Importers and exporters are adjusting their supply chain timing and routing decisions in response to evolving conditions.”

Overall the port had 1.14 million TEUs move into or out of the port through June, a 0.6% increase from 2024 through June.

Vessel calls were down to 77 in June from 87 in May, according to the Port of Oakland.

A full breakdown of the data is available on the port’s website.

The post ‘A market recalibration’: Port of Oakland sees sharp drop in traffic amid tariff uncertainty appeared first on Local News Matters.

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