Bay Area

Imports and Exports Surge at Port of Oakland

“This kind of front-loading—where cargo owners accelerate shipments to avoid added costs—was clearly the driving force behind the month’s performance,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. The increase was not limited to inbound cargo — full exports also rose, moving from 59,593 TEUs in June to 65,595 TEUs in July, an increase of 10.1%. Together, full TEUs totaled 157,987 for the month, up more than 21% from June.

Published

7 months ago

August 25, 2025

Oakland Post

Port of Oakland.

By Post Staff

Port of Oakland July container volume marked a strong rebound from June, with volumes climbing sharply as importers moved cargo early to get ahead of the announced Aug. 1 tariff deadlines.

As one of the city’s largest economic engines, the Port of Oakland plays a critical role in job creation, international trade, and regional development.

Loaded imports jumped from 70,334 TEUs (20-foot containers) in June to 92,392 TEUs in July, a 31.4% increase, the highest monthly import total so far in 2025.

The increase was not limited to inbound cargo — full exports also rose, moving from 59,593 TEUs in June to 65,595 TEUs in July, an increase of 10.1%. Together, full TEUs totaled 157,987 for the month, up more than 21% from June.

Vessel activity also reflected the uptick in demand. Ninety-five vessels called the Port in July, up from 77 in June—a 23.4% increase—as carriers added more port calls to accommodate the additional volume. Average TEUs per vessel edged down slightly from 2,187 in June, to 2,138 in July, a natural shift when more ships are sharing the load.

Year-to-date, total TEUs through July stand at 1,346,022, keeping the Port 1.9% ahead of 2024’s pace. Loaded imports are tracking 3.5% higher than last year, while loaded exports are up 0.3%.

July’s surge underscores how quickly cargo flows can shift in response to announced changes in trade policy.

“The pending tariffs created a clear incentive for importers to push cargo through in advance, giving us a strong month across the board,” said Brandes. “As that front-loaded cargo works its way through the supply chain, we anticipate a more moderate pace in the months ahead.”

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s recent appointments to the Port Commission include Derrick Muhammad, a labor leader from West Oakland and member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

Muhammad brings firsthand knowledge of the Port’s impact on working families. “He will ensure that working people and West Oakland residents remain at the center of Port decision-making,” according to a press release from the Mayor’s Office.

Muhammad, a maritime lawyer and a former leader of the ILWU, is a lifelong Oakland resident and a third-generation ILWU member. He is also an environmental advocate, who has opposed allowing a coal terminal in Oakland.

“This is the first time a representative of the people who actually work at the Port has been on the Port Commission,” said Lee.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Sharon Kidd Honored by National Law Enforcement Group for Justice, Equity Work

Don't Miss

Under Mayor Lee, Oakland Is Cutting Red Tape for Small Business Permits

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 4 – 10, 2026

Published

4 days ago

March 7, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 1, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Chase Oakland Community Center Hosts Alley-Oop Accelerator Building Community and Opportunity for Bay Area Entrepreneurs

Over the past three years, the Alley-Oop Accelerator has helped more than 20 Bay Area businesses grow, connect, and gain meaningful exposure. The program combines hands-on training, mentorship, and community-building to help participants navigate the legal, financial, and marketing challenges of small business ownership.

Published

3 weeks ago

February 21, 2026

Oakland Post

Bay Area entrepreneurs attend the Alley-Oop Accelerator, a small business incubation program at Chase Oakland Community Center. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Golden State Warriors and Chase bank hosted the third annual Alley-Oop Accelerator this month, an empowering eight-week program designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs bring their visions for business to life.

The initiative kicked off on Feb. 12 at Chase’s Oakland Community Center on Broadway Street, welcoming 15 small business owners who joined a growing network of local innovators working to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

At its core, the accelerator is designed to create an ecosystem of collaboration, where local entrepreneurs can learn from one another while accessing the resources of a global financial institution.

“This is our third year in a row working with the Golden State Warriors on the Alley-Oop Accelerator,” said Jaime Garcia, executive director of Chase’s Coaching for Impact team for the West Division. “We’ve already had 20-plus businesses graduate from the program, and we have 15 enrolled this year. The biggest thing about the program is really the community that’s built amongst the business owners — plus the exposure they’re able to get through Chase and the Golden State Warriors.”

According to Garcia, several graduates have gone on to receive vendor contracts with the Warriors and have gained broader recognition through collaborations with JPMorgan Chase.

“A lot of what Chase is trying to do,” Garcia added, “is bring businesses together because what they’ve asked for is an ecosystem, a network where they can connect, grow, and thrive organically.”

This year’s Alley-Oop Accelerator reflects that vision through its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical learning. Participants explore the full spectrum of business essentials including financial management, marketing strategy, and legal compliance, while also preparing for real-world experiences such as pop-up market events.

Each entrepreneur benefits from one-on-one mentoring sessions through Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides complimentary, personalized business consulting.

Garcia described the impact this hands-on approach has had on local small business owners. He recalled one candlemaker, who, after participating in the program, was invited to provide candles as gifts at Chase events.

“We were able to help give that business exposure,” he explained. “But then our team also worked with them on how to access capital to buy inventory and manage operations once those orders started coming in. It’s about preparation. When a hiccup happens, are you ready to handle it?”

The Coaching for Impact initiative, which launched in 2020 in just four cities, has since expanded to 46 nationwide.

“Every business is different,” Garcia said. “That’s why personal coaching matters so much. It’s life-changing.”

Participants in the 2026 program will each receive a $2,500 stipend, funding that Garcia said can make an outsized difference. “It’s amazing what some people can do with just $2,500,” he noted. “It sounds small, but it goes a long way when you have a plan for how to use it.”

For Chase and the Warriors, the Alley-Oop Accelerator represents more than an educational initiative, it’s a pathway to empowerment and economic inclusion. The program continues to foster lasting relationships among the entrepreneurs who, as Garcia put it, “build each other up” through shared growth and opportunity.

“Starting a business is never easy, but with the right support, it becomes possible, and even exhilarating,” said Oscar Lopez, the senior business consultant for Chase in Oakland.