The Port of Oakland is reporting a record volume of imports for 2021 but a decline in the number of exports due to supply chain “misery.”

The port handled the equivalent of 1.05 million 20-foot import containers last year — the most in its 94-year history and 6 percent over 2020 totals, port officials said Monday.

However, its 2021 export volume — 2.4 million 20-foot containers — was 8 percent lower than the prior year because of disruptions associated with supply chain problems, according to port officials.

“Unprecedented” U.S. consumer demand boosted import numbers but voyage cancellations and a cargo container shortage led to the export slow-down, port officials said.

More supply chain problems are expected in 2022 “as trade growth continues to outpace supply chain capacity,” according to the port, which is implementing a new queueing system for arriving ships and offering an empty container yard for exporters to help cope with disruptions.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.