THE Port of Oakland posted a 4.9 per cent monthly year-on-year gain - the first in three months - to 203,446 TEU in May, largely attributed to a 33 per cent increase in outbound empties, totally 27,537 TEU, reports Pacific Maritime Online.

There was a 1.8 per cent May increase in exports coming to 84,443 TEU year on year, but a 5.2 per cent increase inbound containers coming to 72,278 TEU.

Eleven per cent fewer empties came in totalling 19,188 TEU. Year to date, empty exports were down an even five per cent - the only category in which Oakland suffered a loss during the first five months of the year.

Overall traffic was up 1.2 per cent year to date with the year starting with a 7.5 per cent rise in volume in January, followed by three months of declines.