b'32American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(HEADWINDScontinuedvery pleased to say that (we) transport your goods and takessalesforecastreleasedonFeb- amidstrisinghomevaluesand from page 8) just recently announced that we150 trucks off the streets of ourruary24,2026,noted,Thetax breaks, while lower-income containerterminals:Speakingintend to take an ENA (Explor- local community. seasonallyadjustedannualratehouseholds remain squeezed by of big investments whatweatoryNegotiatingAgreement)of sales (SAAR) in February isaffordabilitypressures.Within need to be doingmaking suretoourBoardinthenearP ort ofS and iego anticipated to be approximatelythis economy, disposable income we accommodate the larger ves- future with the Industrial RealtyThe Port of San Diego is a15.6million.Thisfigurerep- growth is concentrated at the top sels that are comingVesselsGroup and the Roots combinedmajor West Coast ro/ro port andresents a decline from last years40%, and thats where much of are getting bigger and we needproposal. Andthisisabeauti- is also recognized for its green16.0 million level but marks anthe spending power will reside to be able to operate them here atful marriage because what hap- initiativesparticularly in theincreaseoverJanuarysweath- this year [2026]. So, while deal-Oakland if were going to be suc- pens here is we get an industrialefforts in reducing air pollutants.er-affected pace of 14.9 million. ers may see things such as lower cessful. And this is where theover-the-dockcargo(facility)In October of 2025, the Port andThereportadded, down payments on used cars and Turning Basins project comes at Howard as it was intended tothe ro/ro carrier Pasha Automo- new-vehiclesalesvolumeisslippingsavingsrates,wealthy we have just secured $8 millionbeontheindustrialside. AndtiveServices(anindependentexpectedtofinishat1.19mil- consumersarefarmorelikely in federal appropriationsthatthencan have a Jack Londonsubsidiary of The Pasha Group)lion,down3.4%fromlastto pay cash for new cars, which is going to keep design going onSquareactivation(of)publictookamajorstepforwardinFebruary,whichhadthesamelowers dealer profitability. thisimportantproject.Thisisactivities and engagement withboth departments when the MVnumberofsellingdays.Com- This is a troublesome trend going to make sure those shipsthe Roots. So, were very excitedJean Anne became the first ro/ paredtoJanuary,new-vehiclefortheautomakersasHenry can turn efficiently and safely onabout this development.ro vessel and Pure Car Carriersales volume is forecast to riseFordthought,massproduction the Inner and Outer Harbor here(PCC), a vessel designed purelyby 6.9% in February, with twoand all the automakers that fol-in Oakland.P ort ofh ueneMe fortransportingvehicles,com- fewer selling days, which is thelowed,basedtheirsuccesson ThePortofHuenemeismissioned for shore power in thetypical seasonal trend.making vehicles affordable to the g reenP orti nitiativeS forgingaheadwithplanstoUnited States.Whilebeingdown3.4%average US auto buyer. Already In November 2025, the Portbuild a new container terminalWiththecommissioning,for a monthly year-to-year com- we are seeing lower cost (even of Oakland announced two criti- toaccommodateitsexpandedtheMVJeanAnne,thero/roparisonmaynotseemtoosig- withtariffs)withforeignauto cal achievements in its pursuit toreefer cargo business from Cen- carrier became a first-of-its kindnificant, it is part of a worryingimports filling the price gap, as become the cleanest and green- tral and South America.achievement in the US as well astrend for the US auto industry.is reflected in the 30% plus slice est port in the United States:In an interview with AJOT,the first-ever shore power con- AsCharlieChesbrough,of US auto sales. Indicative of In2024,arecord86%ofDecassaid:Thegrowthofnection for a domestic (US flagsenioreconomistatCox Auto- the trend, despite duties, Toyota the electricity the Port providedreefercontainershashelpedJones Act) ro/ro carrier. motive said, Februarys SAARexported 615,204 vehicles to the totenantsandfacilitiescamepropelthePorttoprocessingShorepowerallowsves- is expected to improve on Jan- US in 2025, a 14% increase over from renewable and zero-carbon250,000 TEUS per year and withsels to plug into the local elec- uarysweather-impacted14.9the 2024 total. Importantly, out sources; and the Port secured athis increased volume has cometricalgridratherthanrelyingmillion level but still reflect theoftheestimated2.52million long-termenergystorageser- the decision to move away fromon diesel power while at berth.harsh headwinds facing vehicleto 2.93 million vehicles Toyota vicesagreementthatwillhelpour current boom crane/mobileShore power reduces the releasebuyersAlso,themarketissold in the US, over 1.18 mil-strengthenthePortsenergyharborcranes(and)towardof air pollutants such as nitro- slowing due to ongoing concernslion electrified vehicles (largely supply,optimizesolarpower,buildingadedicatedcontainergen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxidesabout the US economy and highhybrids), were representing 47% and advance the Ports full tran- terminalsupportedbyone(SOx),anddieselparticulatenew-vehicleprices. Thesecon- of total volume.sition to clean energy. gantry crane operation to beginmatter (DPM), as well as green- ditions are expected to be majorAnd while the Trump Admin-McKenneyacknowledgedwith. The Port is projecting thathouse gas emissions (CO2e). headwindsforthenew-vehicleistrationsBigBeautifulBill, the support from Oakland Mayorit will process 256,715 TEUs inPort of San Diego Chair Dan- market throughout 2026. passed last July in 2025, should Barbara Lee in facilitating new2025,a74%increaseoveritsielle Moore said, This accom- PricewaterhouseCoopersgiveUStaxpayershigher federal grants in the amount of2020 volume. plishment cannot be understated(PwC),oneoftheBigFourrefunds this year, which in turn $322 million federal dollars sheDecasnotedthat:There it means healthier and happierglobal accounting firms, pointedcould provide a small boost to helped bring to Oakland for zeroare123containerportsinthepeople and families in Nationalout in their January Automotiveautosalesoverthenextquar-emissions:Weregoingtobecountry and we are number 16,City and is a testament to howOutlook2026,itwasntjustter,itwontchangetheauto the cleanest and greenest Port inwhich is pretty impressive givenreal progress is anchored in ourthe Americanconsumersuffer- industrysfundamentalsthat large thanks to our mayor on the12 years ago we did not handlecommitment to the well-being ofingstickershockatnewvehi- drive demandthe American West Coast. containers. It was all break bulkourneighboringcommunities,cle prices. According to PwCsconsumerisfeelingthepinch McKenneyexplained:Ihere. So, we are really kind ofourworkforce,andthegenera- report, New vehicle prices in theand autos are a big ticket item. startedatthePortofOaklandgaining ground there. tions who will follow.US and Europe have increasedAnautoisoftenanAmerican asanenvironmentalplanner.The Port is known for han- ThePortaddedthesinglesharplyrisingonaveragebyfamilyssinglemostexpensive Andso,Iam1000%commit- dling reefer cargoespeciallyshore power plug at the National1525% since 2020driven bypurchase. Andautomakersand ted to zero emissions to makingfruitand autos through roll-on/ City Marine Terminal at a cost ofinflationary pressures, semicon- auto dealers are finding it is now this Port the cleanest makingroll-off (ro/ro) ship calls. In most$6.6 million, which includes $2.5ductor scarcity, raw material costahardeconomicenvironment surethatwedonthavenega- USports,tariffsplayedhavocmillioningrantfundingfromsurges,andsupplychaincon- to sell in. As PwC wrote, The tive impacts on communitieswith business in 2025. In the casetheVolkswagenEnvironmentalstraints. The average transactionhightransactionpriceenviron-Wehaveatremendousprojectof Hueneme, auto volumes wereMitigationTrustforCalifornia,price(ATP)fornewvehiclesmenthasforcedautomakers underway.Wehave$475down 11% but the Port still han- administeredbytheCaliforniaintheseregionsnowconsis- torecalibrateexpectationsfor millioncapitalizingonthatdled 417,000 vehicles, making itAir Resources Board (CARB). tently exceeds $45,000, pushingvolume growth, shifting empha-grant plus private investment toone of the largest ro/ro ports inAll four of the Ports marineaffordability beyond the reach ofsis toward margin preservation.converthundredsofpiecesofthe US. And the container busi- terminalstwo cargo facilitiesmany consumers.terminal equipment and drayageness grew by 11% as tariffs hadat the National City and TenthEdmunds,whichpublishesW hatSn ext ?trucks to zero emissions. littleimpactontheperishableAvenueMarine Terminals,anda number of different guides toExactly how margin pres-The Port is able to facilitatesegmentwithfruitvolumesuptwo cruise terminals at B Streetcarshopping(asubsidiaryofervationforautomakerswill thistransitionbecauseitisits7.3%. Overall, the Port of Huen- and Broadway Piersnow haveCarMax),hadakeenobserva- manifestitselfgreatlydepends own public utility: One of oureme ranks number five in reefersshore power available. tiononthedivideamongUSon the automaker. Sticking to the other great attributes of the PortintheUSlargerthansomecarbuyers.IntheirDecemberMRSP sticker price is one trans-is were a very rare thing in thatmega-ports like neighboring Port2025 report Three Trends Thatlationoftheprocessespe-we are also a public utility forof Long Beach. (BOOMINGcontinued fromWill Shape the US Auto Marketcially for the dealerships making electricity. So, we have investedThePortofHuenemeispage 30) in 2026, Edmunds outlined thethe sales to the consumer. heavily in our electrical, utilityamajorimporterofbananasAmerican auto industry accountsdevelopingdividebetweentheButtheUSautoindustry divisionwe have been staff- through imports from Chiquita,foraround22%ofthetotalhaveandhave-notswhenitand its foreign counterparts are ing that up, and so, we are off toDel Monte, and Dole. Accordingtrade under the USMCA), Southcomestobuyingnewvehiclesdesperatelyseekingsolidfoot-the races with being able to pro- to Decas, Dole will move quiteKorea,Japan(Toyotaslargeststating,In2025,affordabilityinginachaoticeconomicand vide this power.a few bananas here on Maerskvehicle manufacturing plant is inemergedastheautoindustrysgeo-politicalmaelstromthat and Chiquita vessels. AlthoughKentucky) and the EUall ofbiggestbarriertogrowth(edi- nowfeaturesanall-outwar h oWardt erMinaLS oCCer bananas are big, a boost in reef- who have massive investments intors italics) creating a K-shapedbetweentheIsrael-USforces S tadiuM ? ershascomefromblueberrythe US auto sector.dividebetweenshopperswhoandIran,whichiscrippling ThePortwillonceagainimports from Peru. Since 2022,Butthusfartheadminis- canabsorbtodayspricesandpetroleum shipments throughout explore the possibility of build- blueberryimportshaverisentrationseffortshavelargelythose who cant. Higher-incomethe Middle East and driving up ing a sports facility at the Howardfrom 1,047 forty-foot containershad the opposite effect: raisingbuyers who remain in the new-cargasoline prices, not to mention TerminalsitethattheOaklandto 3,228 forty-foot containers inauto manufacturing costs whilemarket are still choosing larger,the transport of autos and auto As unsuccessfully failed to turn2024, an increase of 193%. dampeningdemand.Further,higher-priced vehicles and arentparts. All of which is worrisome into a baseball park and condo- Another underrated advan- the administrations tactics havetradingdownormakingcost- for auto manufacturers.minium complex.tage the Port has is the Venturadone little to change the US con- driven compromises. In contrast,And a big deal is looming in This time, McKenney said,County Railway. sumers appetite for foreign carsmanyprice-sensitiveshoppersthe very near future (July) with the Port will consider proposalsThe railway has been trans- asineverymonthsince2024,havebeenpushedoutofthethe negotiations for the renewal for an industrial use as well asporting goods for the Port sinceimported autos have accountednew-vehiclemarketentirelyasoftheUSMCA.Shouldthe a new stadium for the Oakland1937.ThePortismuchmorefor over 30% of total auto saleselevated monthly payments putTrumpAdministrationchoose Rootssoccerteam:Howardthanjustaplaceforshipstoand in January 2026 (the monthownership out of reach. to back-out of the deal (a very Terminalwaslastanoverthedock, Decas said, We [the Portforthelatestfigures)theper- CoxAutomotivesaidofreal possibility), the automakers dockterminal, container ter- ofHueneme]serveasavitalcentage peaked at 39.1%.thisimpactoftheautobuyerstand to take the hardest hit. minal in 2013. It has served alink in the supply chain to getdichotomywiththeemergenceWhileHenryFordsstoic numberofimportantpurposesyouthegoodsyouuseeverya utod eMand ind eManding of wealthy top tier buyers out- advice oftaking-off against the forthePortbutreallyhasday. Andthatswhereowningt iMeS pacingtheaverageandlowerwind might have merit, it is also not been fully utilized given itsarailwaycomesinhandyCox Automotive, which chron- incomebuyers,Inanincreas- worthnotingthatlittletakes-50 acres. So, we did do an RFQAnd guess what? The rail pro- icles the economic performanceingly fickle economy, upper-in- off when the runway is cratered onthatpropertyandIamvides a cleaner and safer way toof the US auto industry, in theircomehouseholdsarethrivingwith gaping holes.'