The ports in Oakland,CA saw their logistic activity upsurge, primarily in imports during the month of December. This turn around ends an 11 month declining streak for the location.
As the nation’s fifth largest, the port released the numbers that showed an 18% increase y.o.y in imported cargo. The total amount of cargo containers for the city in 2009 was 2,051,000. Year over year a 8+% decrease from 2008, but things could be changing.
Hit hard by the global recession, the port has had to cut back on expenses as revenues declined the past two years. Port officials laid off workers and slowed capital expenditures in 2009 for the second straight year. Port officials said they needed to cut operating expenses by $10 million to balance its estimated $280 million budget, which covers the Port of Oakland’s maritime, aviation and commercial real estate divisions.
Big plans are underway overseen by grande developer Phil Tagami, and the city awaits the initial phase of what could be Oakland’s largest project of the new decade.