Key facts
- U.S. container imports in July reached the fourth-highest level on record.
- Seaports handled 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July.
- This volume was down 4.3% compared to July 2025.
- Chinese-origin imports saw the highest monthly volume in a year.
- New tariffs of up to 12.5% replaced expired 10% global Section 122 tariffs.
U.S. imports of containerized goods in July reached the fourth-highest level for the month, as shippers rushed in goods ahead of potential U.S. tariff changes, according to supply chain technology provider Descartes Systems Group. U.S. seaports handled 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July, a 4.3% decrease from the near-record result in July 2025. Through the first seven months of 2026, imports were down 0.9% year over year but remained well above pre-COVID pandemic levels.
In late July, 10% global Section 122 tariffs expired and were replaced by new tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries tied to allegations of forced labor. Chinese-origin imports rose to 873,129 TEUs in July, the highest monthly volume in a year. China sends more goods via container to the U.S. than any other country, even after President Donald Trump has targeted such products with tariffs.
Retailers like Walmart, Amazon.com, and Home Depot account for roughly half of all U.S. container imports. The traditional peak shipping season has been arriving earlier and over a longer period due to supply-chain upheavals. Descartes noted that the broader trade environment remains unsettled due to elevated Strait of Hormuz risk, changing U.S. tariff measures, tighter Panama Canal draft restrictions, and continued Red Sea disruption, all influencing freight costs, routing decisions, and sourcing strategies.