Port of Richmond

Richmond, CA

Key Facts

The Port of Richmond is Northern California’s most diversified cargo handler. With its roots in petroleum and liquid bulk cargos, Richmond has expanded its dry bulk, break-bulk, and containerized cargo handling capabilities and has increased its automobile processing facilities. Today, Richmond ranks number one in liquid bulk and automobile tonnage among ports on San Francisco Bay.

By the Numbers: In 2019 alone, the Port of Richmond’s trade totaled $9.51 billion, including $2.01 billion in exports and $7.51 billion in imports.

Top Exports in 2019

  • Gasoline and other fuels
  • Scrap iron and steel
  • Coal

Top Imports in 2019

  • Oil
  • Passenger vehicles
  • Gasoline and other fuels

Top Trading Countries in 2019

  • Saudi Arabia
  • Japan
  • Mexico

About the Port

Strategically located by land and by sea, the Port of Richmond is approximately nine miles from the Golden Gate on the east shore of San Francisco Bay and is easily accessible by a federally-maintained deep water channel, the Richmond Harbor Channel.

Richmond is abundantly served by the interstate highway system.  Transcontinental Interstate 80 leads to Sacramento, Reno, and eastward.  The Interstate 580 passes through the port area connecting Interstate 80 with the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, which leads to north-south US Highway 101.  The Port is also served by two major transcontinental railroads, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union pacific.  Thus, whatever the destination or point of origin, cargo can readily be trucked and/or railed to and from the Port of Richmond.

Richmond has 32 miles of shoreline along the northern and eastern reaches of San Francisco Bay.  There are five city-owned terminals.  These tenant-operated terminals handle a wide range of liquid and dry bulk commodities, automobiles, and diversified cargo.  The Port of Richmond also encompasses ten privately owned terminals for handling bulk liquid, dry bulk materials, metals, and break-bulk cargoes.