Jan 15, 2026
The Port of Oakland handled 179,580 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) in December, down 1.7% year-on-year as cargo volumes stabilized in the face of uneven global trade conditions. This data was reported by FreightWaves. Loaded containers totaled 140,050 TEUs, a decline of 3% compared to December 2024. Loaded imports fell 12.8%, while loaded exports were 10.9% higher.
Oakland and other West Coast ports outside of southern California faced an array of challenges in 2025, from President Donald Trump’s chaotic tariff war on China to a shifting of trade patterns and reconfiguring of services on the part of ocean carriers. The hubs have also seen aggressive growth by the western Canadian ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, which have leveraged cross-border rail services to attract U.S.-bound intermodal shipments headed for the Midwest.
Oakland’s empty container volumes totaled 39,530 TEUs in December, an increase of 3.4% y/y, which the port ascribed to end-of-year repositioning. On a month-to-month basis, December volumes rose slightly compared to November, consistent with normal year-end shipping patterns.
“December reflected the kind of uneven performance we’ve seen across the industry, with softer imports and strong export activity,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes, in a release. “That difference is more about timing and adjustment than any fundamental change in demand.”
For all of 2025, total container volume was essentially flat at 0.4% off previous-year levels at 2,253,976 TEUs, which the port termed a “notable outcome” given policy and economic uncertainty. Total import TEUs were weaker by 0.9%, while exports TEUs increased slightly by 0.1%, for a near-50/50 mix. Loaded containers accounted for approximately 77% of total volume, on a par with recent years.
“In an environment defined by uncertainty, maintaining stability matters,” Brandes said. “Our focus throughout the year was on keeping cargo moving reliably and predictably, ensuring customers could continue to move goods efficiently as trade conditions shifted.”
The port this week said it received two new container cranes, for the TraPac terminal. It said the delivery from Liebherr marks the first time European-built ship-to-shore cranes that have been deployed on the U.S. West Coast.
Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform
This report provides a comprehensive view of the transport container industry in the United States, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the national value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between domestic suppliers and international partners. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the transport container landscape in the United States.
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Key findings
Domestic demand is shaped by both household and industrial usage, with trade flows linking local supply to imports and exports.
Pricing dynamics reflect unit values, freight costs, exchange rates, and regulatory shifts that affect sourcing decisions.
Supply depends on input availability and production efficiency, creating a distinct national cost curve.
Market concentration varies by segment, creating different competitive landscapes and entry barriers.
The 2035 outlook highlights where capacity investment and demand growth are most aligned within the country.
Report scope
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics for the United States. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts.
Market size and growth in value and volume terms
Consumption structure by end-use segments
Production capacity, output, and cost dynamics
Trade flows, exporters, importers, and balances
Price benchmarks, unit values, and margin signals
Competitive context and market entry conditions
Product coverageProdcom 29202100 – Containers specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport (including containers for transporting fluids)Country coverageCountry profile and benchmarks
This report provides a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States. The profile highlights demand structure and trade position, enabling benchmarking against regional and global peers.
Methodology
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
International trade data (exports, imports, and mirror statistics)
National production and consumption statistics
Company-level information from financial filings and public releases
Price series and unit value benchmarks
Analyst review, outlier checks, and time-series validation
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
Forecasts to 2035
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links transport container demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts in the United States.
Historical baseline: 2012-2025
Forecast horizon: 2026-2035
Scenario-based sensitivity to income growth, substitution, and regulation
Capacity and investment outlook for major producing companies
Each projection is built from national historical patterns and the broader regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Price analysis and trade dynamics
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Price benchmarks by country and sub-region
Export and import unit value trends
Seasonality and calendar effects in trade flows
Price outlook to 2035 under baseline assumptions
Profiles of market participants
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
Business focus and production capabilities
Geographic reach and distribution networks
Cost structure and pricing strategy indicators
Compliance, certification, and sustainability context
How to use this report
Quantify domestic demand and identify the most attractive segments
Evaluate export opportunities and prioritize target destinations
Track price dynamics and protect margins
Benchmark performance against leading competitors
Build evidence-based forecasts for investment decisions
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of transport container dynamics in the United States.
FAQ
What is included in the transport container market in the United States?
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data, presented in both value and volume terms.
How are the forecasts to 2035 built?
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Does the report cover prices and margins?
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
Which benchmarks are included?
The report benchmarks market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators for the United States.
Can this report support market entry decisions?
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.