Key facts
- US container imports reached a record 2.55 million TEUs in September.
- Shipments from China increased 21.2% year-over-year.
- Chinese imports constituted 36.3% of total US container volume in September.
- Retail goods like plastic, furniture, and toys dominated Chinese shipments.
- Year-to-date import volume for 2026 was up 0.8% compared to 2025.
US container imports reached a new record for September, driven by a significant increase in shipments from China, according to supply-chain technology provider Descartes Systems Group. The total import volume for September rose 10.3% from the previous year to 2.55 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Shipments originating from China saw a substantial 21.2% increase, contributing 924,454 TEUs and making up 36.3% of the total volume. These imports primarily consisted of retail goods, including plastic products, furniture, bedding, toys, and sporting goods, destined for major retailers such as Walmart and Costco.
For the first nine months of 2026, overall import volume showed a modest increase of 0.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Experts consider US import data a key indicator of the nation's economic health, consumer demand, and the effectiveness of trade policies.