Oakland Port Opens New Container Yard to Assist Ag Exporters
The Port of Oakland announced a new effort this week to improve its flow of agricultural exports, including a new 25-acre container yard. The port will also look to restore “export ship calls” and provide more “assistance” to export users. “The Port -- along with our federal and state partners -- is ready to do everything we can to help provide room and relief to help our agricultural customers,” said Danny Wan, the port’s executive director.
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The new off-terminal, paved container yard will store containers for “rapid pick-up,” the port said, and will “provide access to equipment and provide faster truck turns without having to wait for in-terminal space.” Port executives have also discussed long-term solutions with John Porcari, port envoy for the White House’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, to better improve agricultural exports. “We need the shipping companies to immediately restore the export lines from Oakland to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent,” said Bryan Brandes, the port’s maritime director.
Porcari said the administration is focused on “ramping up efforts” to make sure exporters are treated fairly. U.S. agricultural trade groups and exporters have complained for months about ocean carriers unjustly declining export bookings because the carriers can charge higher rates for imports (see 2111180057 and 2109130023).
“In the short term, [we’re] making sure that agriculture exports that go out in containers are not disadvantaged by the global dislocations in supply chains,” Porcaro told reporters Jan. 5. “And in the long term, [we’re] making sure that everything from the ocean carrier service that brings those American exports around the world to the physical facilities at the Port of Oakland and other ports are in place.”