Refrigerated export volume in the Port of Oakland has grown 20% in the past year.

The Port said it handled 119,756 20-foot containers of refrigerated exports from August 2018 through July 2019, up from 99,740 in the same period a year ago, reinforcing Oakland’s position as the largest exporter of refrigerated cargo in containers among US ports.

“Our business partners are investing to meet increased overseas demand for US farm goods,” said Port of Oakland maritime director John Driscoll.

“When you couple their expertise with our infrastructure, it makes a compelling case for running the transportation cold chain through Oakland," he added.

Beef and pork exports

The Port said its fastest-growing refrigerated exports were beef and pork products from the US Midwest. Beef exports have increased by 45% in the past year, while pork volume is up 38% in that same period.

The Port attributed its growth in refrigerated cargo to strong consumer demand, increased US farm production and Oakland’s location on the eastern edge of the Pacific Rim.

Oakland is usually the final stop for Asia-bound container ships leaving the US, making it the fastest gateway to Asia, the Port’s primary market, for shippers of perishables.

The Port has taken steps this decade to strengthen its foothold in cold chain logistics including developing new distribution capability; extending operating hours to ease delivery of export containers to the Port for overseas shipment, and installing hundreds of additional electrical outlets to plugin refrigerated containers awaiting vessel loading.

Controlled temperature facilities
Last fall, Lineage Cool Port Oakland opened at the Port. It’s a collaboration of logistics and warehousing industry leaders, Lineage Logistics and Dreisbach Enterprises. The 283,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution center handles containerized perishables, mostly beef and pork.

The Port listed other companies that provide temperature-controlled services for exporters through Oakland: PCC Logistics, Pacific Transload Systems, AGRO Merchants Group, Preferred Freezer Services, United Cold Storage, Americold, and United States Cold Storage.