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4h ago

U.S. Container Imports Drop 7.8% in November, With Early 2026 Declines Forecast

Tariff uncertainty is prompting importer caution.

Shipping containers from China sit at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, U.S., November 5, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
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Overview

  • Descartes reports 2.18 million TEUs in November, a 7.8% year-over-year decline that still ranked as the fourth-strongest November on record.
  • China-origin volumes fell 19.7% year over year in November, and Chinese customs data show continued declines in U.S.-bound exports.
  • NRF/Hackett project sustained weakness: January at about 2.0 million TEUs (-10.3%), February 1.86 million (-8.5%), March 1.79 million (-16.8%) and April 1.97 million (-10.9%).
  • Import volumes for the first 11 months of 2025 are up 0.1% versus 2024 after early-year gains, with retailers signaling caution as the Supreme Court reviews IEEPA tariff authority.
  • Sourcing shifts are taking hold, with year-over-year growth from Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, while recent tariff reductions on select food items offer only modest relief.