Business Goes Bananas at Port; Net Income Reported Up

Income at the expanding Port of Hueneme grew faster than expected in the fiscal year that ended June 30, with total revenues exceeding $5 million for the first time, port officials announced this week.

Net income for the Oxnard Harbor District, which manages the port, was up 40% to $719,207 on operating revenues of $5.1 million, according to the district’s annual financial statement released earlier this week.

William Buenger, the district’s deputy executive director, attributed the rise to unexpectedly strong growth in imports of Volvos from Sweden and frozen meat from Australia.

Another key element was the increase in shipments of bananas by Turbana and Del Monte.

A large refrigerated warehouse to be completed later this year at the port will help the shipments continue to increase, Buenger said.

According to the annual report, 488,025 tons of dry goods were shipped through the Port of Hueneme in the year that ended June 30, with bananas accounting for 187,658 tons.

“Our business is going bananas,” Buenger quipped.