China volumes, tariff anxiety helps surging US container imports challenge ’22 record

Containerized imports through U.S. ports surged to more than 2.6 million twenty foot equivalent units in July, as peak-season demand and tariff pressures left volumes just short of the monthly record.

China import volumes also staged a recovery through the busiest American ocean container gateways.

Volume totaled 2,621,910 TEUs, up 18.2% from June and 2.6% higher than July 2024, according to data compiled by Descartes Datamyne, and just 555 TEUs short of the all-time record set in May 2022.

Descartes cited strong seasonal demand and suspected frontloading of shipments as importers maneuvered amid trade policy shifts.