32 
American Journal of Transportation
American Journal of Transportation  
ajot.com
Port… Last year, we moved 55,000 rail cars. So, we 
have one entrance and 66 miles of track. So, there is, 
as you can imagine, some congestion.”
The Port has received funding from the State 
of California to double-track its rail lines to reduce 
congestion: “We are fortunate enough to get that 
funding of $45.9 million … So, we have a large 
majority of the funding ready for that project … And 
this is for double tracking.”
Port Tonnage
In terms of tonnage, the Port has seen reduced 
tonnage in recent years: “Well, it has dropped off 
over the last few years ... Our biggest struggle … is 
our water depth …”
In its Fiscal Year 2024-2025 report, the Port 
reported that 2023-2024 waterborne tonnage bud-
geted and for the year-end projection was down: 
from 4,187,500 tons to 3,552,000 tons, a decline of 
635,500 tons.
For the Port of Stockton, General Cargo includes: 
steel, sugar, and bagged rice.
Dry Bulk includes: cement/slag, low sulfur coal, 
mineral sand, fertilizer nitrates, sulfur.
Liquid Bulk Cargo includes: fertilizer, renew-
able diesel, food-grade oil, feedstock, sulfuric acid.
Market Outlook
According to the Port’s Market Outlook, “Dry 
and Liquid bulk cargoes currently represent around 
95% of total cargo mix.” Core waterborne commod-
ities include: “Coal, cement, fertilizer, renewable 
liquids on average represent 72% of total annual 
throughput.”
Compound annual growth rate over the last 10 
years: “has been flat with the exception of liquid 
bulk (CAGR 5%)”
Primary drivers of future growth: “In short/near 
terms likely to remain tied to bulk commodities: 
potential for incremental break bulk volumes, but 
largely dependent on labor productivity/cost.”
tractor, we need 175,000 cubic yards. Well, there is 
no incentive to go beyond that. They are not looking 
for a depth, they are looking for a volume,” DeJesus 
explained. “Once they’ve completed that volume, 
the contractor will stop, even if certain parts of the 
channel are not at the required depth.” This lack of 
focus on depth rather than just volume means that 
parts of the ship channel may end up being dredged 
to only 33 feet, instead of the full 35 feet required 
for optimal operation. “Once the survey is com-
plete and it shows 33.8 feet, for example, that’s the 
operational depth for the year.  We do not have the 
opportunity to go in afterwards and clean up any of 
the high spots,” DeJesus said. This depth differen-
tial means that ships have to carry less cargo, which 
limits the Port’s ability to function at full capacity.
He expressed the hope for some method “where 
we could just go knock off those high points through-
out the year”
The dredging period is limited: “There’s an 
in-water dredge window between July and Novem-
ber and that is the only time that dredging can take 
place. Many years the dredger may not get into 
the water until August, September or even Octo-
ber because they have other dredging work or are 
working on various submittals to USACE. So, they 
have never started on July 1 or even Aug 1. They 
start on the … west end in Antioch … and may not 
get all the way to the Port of Stockton until Octo-
ber, November.   And the dredge window closes on 
November 30th.”
These concerns echo broader issues that have 
been raised at other ports in the region, where they 
have experienced similar struggles with maintaining 
the ship channel depth. 
Bulk Commodities
DeJesus is hoping to increase the export of 
bulk commodities: “And I think right now with this 
administration, there’s potential for some additional 
bulk commodities. Some of these commodities may 
not be popular on the West Coast or California, 
but they are necessary. In previous years, the Port 
have moved well over 1 million metric tons of these 
bulk minerals; however, recent years have seen the 
number dwindle to 200,000 metric tons.  
New Solar Installation
In March, Yara North America, a Port tenant 
which delivers “quality crop nutrition solutions sup-
porting the agriculture industry” was joined by the 
Port of Stockton, representatives from Congress-
man Josh Harder and Assemblymember Rhodesia 
Ransom, Supervisor Mario Gardea, City of Stock-
ton officials, and the Chamber of Commerce who 
celebrated the completion of a new solar energy 
installation at Yara’s Stockton Liquid Facility.
The installation features a solar photovoltaic 
system with both carport and roof mounted arrays, 
bringing clean energy generation directly to the site. 
The system includes 242 solar panels designed to 
generate enough electricity to meet 100% of the 
facility’s energy needs.
“This investment demonstrates how our Port 
community is working together to reduce environ-
mental impacts while supporting regional economic 
growth,” said Allen Sawyer, Chair of the Port Board 
of Commissioners.”
Rail
DeJesus says the Port is upgrading its rail capac-
ity to reduce congestion moving cargoes in and out 
of the Port: “A lot of where the congestion comes in 
is bottlenecks on the entrance… So, we are going 
to put in a class yard on the west complex. That is 
going to give us the ability (for) a lot of this storage 
track. It is not necessarily moving cars from the east 
complex to the west complex. It is getting tracks off 
the main line. So, if we get the cars off the main 
line, get storage, get them situated, then we can keep 
traffic moving. We have 66 miles of rail track on the 
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