According to the Descartes Systems Group's Global Shipping Report, US container imports reached over 2.621 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in July, an 18.2% increase compared to June and 2.6% higher than July 2024. This figure fell just 555 TEU short of the all-time high set in 5/2022. Compared to July 2019 (pre-pandemic), import volume increased by 19.3%.
Shipments from China soared to 923,075 TEU, a 44.4% jump from the previous month, reaching the highest level since the beginning of 2025. Although still about 9.8% below the record high of July 2024, China's share of goods reached 35.2%, the highest since the start of the year but lower than the 41.5% seen in 2/2022. Hong Kong (China) also recorded a significant increase of 47.8%, equivalent to 25,185 TEU.
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US container volumes surge due to US tariff policy influence. Photo: Kalyakan |
US container volumes surge due to US tariff policy influence. Photo: Kalyakan
For the second consecutive month, West Coast ports maintained their market share lead over East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. Notably, port transit times only saw a slight increase, suggesting the infrastructure is handling the large volume of goods efficiently.
Jackson Wood, Chief Industry Strategist at Descartes, commented, "After two months of uneven growth, July’s surge demonstrates that the impact of US tariff policy is not solely dependent on seasonal demand cycles. However, the level of trade uncertainty remains high as US importers re-evaluate their supply chains in response to tariff changes.”
These factors include: retaliatory tariffs on over 60 countries from 1/8, separate tariffs on India from 7/8, universal taxes on copper, and the expiration of the US-China tariff ceasefire on 15/10. This development has led many import businesses to increase their imports early, before the new policies take effect.
Descartes Systems Group is a leading provider of cloud-based logistics solutions, serving customers worldwide. The company specializes in helping businesses optimize transportation, manage supply chains, and meet international trade compliance requirements. Through regular market analysis reports, Descartes provides in-depth data and insights to help businesses make strategic decisions in a volatile global trade environment.
Gia Han (Food Logistics)
