U.S. Container Imports Hit Historic High: 262.2M TEU in July 2025

Key Data (Descartes):
July 2025 U.S. imports surged to 262.2M TEU—2nd highest ever**, just 555 TEU shy of May 2022’s record.

• MoM growth: +18.2% (vs. June 2025)

• YoY growth: +2.6%

Drivers of the Boom:

"Tariff Truce Rush": Preemptive shipments before Trump’s extended China tariff pause (expires Nov 10).
Seasonal Demand: Early holiday inventory buildup.

China-U.S. Trade Highlights:

China remains #1 source (35.2% of total U.S. imports), but share down from 41.5% in Feb 2022.

• July 2025 imports from China: 923K TEU (+44.4% MoM), highest since January.

• Still 9.8% below July 2024’s peak (1.023M TEU).

Port Performance:

East/Gulf Ports Outpace West Coast:
1️⃣ Houston: +122% MoM (top growth)
2️⃣ Savannah: +90.2%
3️⃣ NY/NJ: +69.5%
4️⃣ Charleston: +78.9%

West Coast Rebound (but slower):

• LA: +33.6%

• Long Beach: +26.7%

• Tacoma/Seattle: +10-14%

Action Steps for Shippers:

✅ Lock in rates early: Expect capacity pressure through Q3.
✅ Monitor port congestion: East Coast gains may strain infrastructure.
✅ Verify tariff status: Confirm HS codes for post-Nov 10 shipments.