U.S.-bound container imports hit second-highest month on record amid tariff and seasonal pressures

Summary

The August Descartes Global Shipping Report shows U.S.-bound container imports reached 2,519,722 TEU — the second-highest monthly total recorded in 2025. Volumes fell 3.9% from July but were up 1.6% year-on-year and 17.6% above pre-pandemic 2019. This was the second consecutive month above 2.4 million TEU, levels that historically strain maritime infrastructure. Year-to-date volumes through August are up 3.3% versus last year, signalling resilient demand despite tariff uncertainty and shifting trade policies.

Key Points

August U.S.-bound imports: 2,519,722 TEU, down 3.9% from July but +1.6% year-on-year.
Volumes remain 17.6% higher than 2019, and August was the second month above 2.4M TEU in a row.
Importers are adjusting shipments around tariff timings — including the mid-November expiry of the U.S.–China tariff truce and the end of the de minimis exemption on 29 August.
Imports from China were 869,253 TEU (−5.8% sequential, −10.8% annually); China’s share fell to 34.5%.
Top 10 source countries saw a 4.4% month-on-month drop, with notable declines from China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Top 10 U.S. ports handled 84.9% of volumes but were down 4.1% month-on-month; Port of Los Angeles fell 9.3%.
East and Gulf Coast ports gained share (40.8%, +1.5ppt) while West Coast eased to 44.1% (−1.7ppt).
Descartes warns sustained elevated volumes plus tariff timing can amplify pressure on maritime infrastructure and supply chains.

Context and Relevance

The report arrives as tariff policy and legal challenges (including cases headed to the Supreme Court) keep importers cautious. Removal of the de minimis exemption and looming tariff deadlines are prompting shipment front-loading and routing changes, which can spike port and logistics congestion even when underlying consumer demand is steady. For port operators, carriers, 3PLs and importers, the data highlights both short-term operational stresses and the longer-term resilience of import demand.

Author style

Punchy: data-forward and to the point — this is a must-watch snapshot if you manage imports, ports or ocean freight strategy. The numbers cut through the noise and show where immediate pressure points are likely to appear.

Why should I read this

Quick and useful — this story gives you the headline figures and why they matter. If you deal with inventory planning, port operations or carrier scheduling, it tells you whether to expect congestion, re-routing or tariff-driven shipment moves. Basically: save time, get the essentials, and decide if you need the deeper dive.