August U.S. container imports hit third‑highest level on record

Descartes Systems Group’s September Global Shipping Report shows August 2026 U.S. containerized imports reached 2,603,709 TEUs, up 3.8 per cent from July and the third‑highest monthly total on record. Only May 2022 and July 2025 posted higher volumes. Imports were 3.3 per cent above August 2025 and 21.5 per cent higher than pre‑pandemic August 2019.

China‑origin imports rose 1.3 per cent month‑over‑month to 884,318 TEUs. As a share of total U.S. imports, China declined from 34.8 per cent in July to 34.0 per cent in August as other sourcing markets grew more quickly. Imports from the top 10 countries of origin increased 3.5 per cent over July, with Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and China recording the largest gains. India was the only country to decline.

Port transit delays increased across all major U.S. gateways in August.

Jackson Wood, director of industry strategy at Descartes, said U.S. import demand remained strong in August, with volumes reaching 2.6 million TEUs and showing growth across most major sourcing countries and ports.

““At the same time, rising port delays, tighter Panama Canal capacity, expanded tariff exposure, and persistent disruption in the Middle East and Red Sea are increasing supply chain complexity. Timely trade intelligence and flexible sourcing and routing strategies remain key strategies to help importers manage costs and respond effectively as conditions change,” he said.

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