Port of Oakland to become major link in the transpacific cold chain

This week’s announcement of a new ocean cargo service linking China to Oakland comes at a time when the port is making a remarkable outreach effort, with significant “cold chain” implications.

Just last month, The port and China Merchants Holdings International Company Limited (CMHI) entered into an agreement to strategically market and develop supply chain solutions for U.S. exports, particularly agricultural commodities and perishable products. A delegation from the Port of Oakland, led by First Vice President of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, Pamela Calloway, participated in a signing ceremony held at China Merchants’ Hong Kong headquarters.

The focus was on enhancing warehousing and logistics facilities and creating seamless cold chain services for U.S. companies exporting their perishable products to China.

“The form and scale of this partnership is a first for the U.S. port industry,” said Omar Benjamin, Port of Oakland Executive Director. “China is a significant and rapidly growing market for U.S. food and agriculture products, but the lack of cold chain services is inhibiting the export potential. Our initiatives will help make it easier, safer and faster to export U.S. commodities from California and distribute them throughout China