Latest news with #containerimports
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
June rebound as West Coast containers best East, Gulf ports
In June 2025, U.S. container import volumes experienced a modest rebound, marking a stabilization after May's sharp decline. Data from Descartes reveals a 1.8% increase in container imports to 2,217,675 twenty foot equivalent units, narrowing the year-over-year decline to 3.5%. This rebound suggests that U.S. importers are beginning to adapt their supply chains amid ongoing tariff and policy shifts, with year-to-date import volumes tracking 3.8% above 2024 levels. The shift in port dynamics was noticeable, with top West Coast ports regaining momentum. Los Angeles experienced a 29.1% increase in volume, adding 103,884 TEUs, while Long Beach saw an 18.8% rise, contributing an additional 58,492 TEUs. Tacoma's volume increased by 33.3%, highlighting a strong performance on the West Coast. Conversely, most East and Gulf Coast ports reported significant declines. Savannah saw a decrease of 16.9%, and Houston experienced a 15.8% drop in volumes. Overall, the top 10 U.S. ports handled a combined volume showing a 3.1% rise month-over-month. Despite a slight month-over-month increase of 0.4% to 639,300 TEUs, U.S. imports from China were down 28.3% from June 2024, reflecting the sustained impact of elevated tariffs and the rollback of the de minimis exemption. Categories such as furniture and plastics saw sharp year-over-year declines. With China-origin imports constituting only 28.8% of total U.S. imports — the lowest in four years — importers are pushing toward diversification, favoring Southeast Asian countries. Vietnam, for example, increased its export volumes to the U.S. by 7.7% over May, indicating a shift in sourcing strategies. Port delays improved notably in June, particularly at key West Coast ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach, which saw reductions in congestion by 2.1 and 3.3 days, respectively. This improvement signals an easing of the bottlenecks prevalent in May. East and Gulf Coast ports, while experiencing smaller gains, remained more stable with minimal changes in transit times. As of July 2025, the U.S.–China trade relationship remains under a temporary truce, with a framework agreement in development following May's tariff reduction to 30%, down from 145%. However, upcoming deadlines in July and August could trigger renewed tensions if unresolved disputes persist. Meanwhile, worsening disruptions in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks on shipping and Iran–Israel conflicts continue to impact global shipping routes, forcing carriers to reroute vessels, leading to higher costs and extended transit had recommendations to manage supply chain risk: Monitor tariff deadlines: With upcoming expirations of key tariff agreements, modeling the impacts of potential increases is critical for planning. Assess port volumes and delays: Given the historical strain on U.S. logistics infrastructure at certain volumes, continuous monitoring is essential. Track geopolitical risks: Ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts necessitate strategic assessments of routing options and potential alternatives. Diverse sourcing: Evaluating supplier and factory locations can mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on specific regions, a crucial step in maintaining supply chain resilience. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls Newark opens new electric drayage charging station Italy shipbuilder appoints new US chief Crowley adds new U.S. Northeast ocean service with Central America Merchant vessel attacked in Red Sea The post June rebound as West Coast containers best East, Gulf ports appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First decline in US cargo imports since 2023 blamed on tariffs
The global container import industry has experienced steady growth over the past two decades, although recent projections suggest a decline for 2024. According to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates' Global Port Tracker, container imports in the period from 2004 to 2023 have demonstrated consistent year-on-year increases. However, the forecast for 2024 indicates a slight dip in imports, reflecting shifts in international trade patterns and market conditions. Between 2004 and 2023, global container imports grew significantly, rising from 14.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2004 to 25.5 million TEUs by 2023. Several factors contributed to this growth, including a booming global economy in the early 2000s, increased consumer demand, and the expansion of global supply chains. The period from 2010 to 2019 saw the most significant year-on-year increases, with imports consistently surpassing the 16 million TEU mark by the end of the decade. Despite a downturn during the global financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent years, imports rebounded, reaching 18.5 million TEUs by 2013. By 2020, amid the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global imports saw another sharp dip to 13.2 million TEUs, but they quickly recovered, reaching 25.8 million TEUs by 2021. The latest projections for 2024 suggest a slight decline in global container imports, with an expected total of 25.5 million TEUs. This marks a decrease from the previous year's import volume of 25.8 million TEUs. Several factors may contribute to this forecast dip, including ongoing global supply chain challenges, fluctuating consumer demand, and the impact of economic uncertainty in key markets such as the United States and China. As trade routes and industries adapt to new economic realities, the dip in imports highlights the ongoing shifts within the global trade ecosystem. While imports have remained resilient in the face of economic turbulence, a more cautious approach to international trade in 2024 seems likely. The long-term outlook for container imports remains positive, with growth anticipated in the years beyond 2024. Factors such as technological advancements in shipping, changes in consumer purchasing habits, and continued growth in emerging markets are expected to drive future increases in container volumes. Additionally, the expansion of port infrastructure and improvements in supply chain resilience could play a significant role in sustaining the upward trajectory of global imports in the coming years. Overall, while 2024 may see a small decline in imports, the broader trend remains one of growth and adaptation within the global trade sector. Navigate the shifting tariff landscape with real-time data and market-leading analysis. Request a free demo for GlobalData's Strategic Intelligence . "First decline in US cargo imports since 2023 blamed on tariffs" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Near-record US container import streak expected to snap in May due to tariffs
LOS ANGELES, May 8 (Reuters) - U.S. container imports surged in April as companies raced to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs, which now include a 145% duty on goods from China, but executives at the country's two busiest ports said the trend looked set to reverse in May. April container imports jumped 9.1% from a year earlier to top 2.4 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the second-highest on record for the month, supply chain technology provider Descartes ( opens new tab, said on Thursday. Imports from China, the top U.S. maritime trade partner, jumped 6.2% and accounted for 33.4% of all imports in April. Trump on April 9 imposed punishing 145% tariffs on China, more than doubling the cost of goods from the country for U.S. consumers and prompting retailers like Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab, (AMZN.O), opens new tab and other importers to pause or cancel some factory orders. He has also imposed 10% tariffs on many other nations and said those rates could go higher. Import cargo at the Port of Los Angeles, the No. 1 U.S. seaport complex and the nation's leading gateway for goods from China, is expected to drop 35% year-over-year this week, said Gene Seroka, the port's executive director. Overall May ship traffic could decline by roughly 20% as operators of hulking cargo vessels cancel scheduled voyages due to soft demand, Seroka added. Many of the goods that enter the Port of Los Angeles and adjacent Port of Long Beach fan out across the mainland United States via truck and train. Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero expects May volume to fall 20% versus a year ago. Quickly evolving U.S. trade policies and retaliatory measures from U.S. trading partners as well as ongoing instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe are raising the risk for global supply chain disruption, Descartes said. "The full impact of tariffs — and the May 2 expiration of the de minimis exemption — has yet to be reflected in import volumes from China," Descartes said, referring to popular duty-free access for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Near-record US container import streak expected to snap in May due to tariffs
By Lisa Baertlein LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -U.S. container imports surged in April as companies raced to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs, which now include a 145% duty on goods from China, but executives at the country's two busiest ports said the trend looked set to reverse in May. April container imports jumped 9.1% from a year earlier to top 2.4 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the second-highest on record for the month, supply chain technology provider Descartes, said on Thursday. Imports from China, the top U.S. maritime trade partner, jumped 6.2% and accounted for 33.4% of all imports in April. Trump on April 9 imposed punishing 145% tariffs on China, more than doubling the cost of goods from the country for U.S. consumers and prompting retailers like Walmart, and other importers to pause or cancel some factory orders. He has also imposed 10% tariffs on many other nations and said those rates could go higher. Import cargo at the Port of Los Angeles, the No. 1 U.S. seaport complex and the nation's leading gateway for goods from China, is expected to drop 35% year-over-year this week, said Gene Seroka, the port's executive director. Overall May ship traffic could decline by roughly 20% as operators of hulking cargo vessels cancel scheduled voyages due to soft demand, Seroka added. Many of the goods that enter the Port of Los Angeles and adjacent Port of Long Beach fan out across the mainland United States via truck and train. Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero expects May volume to fall 20% versus a year ago. Quickly evolving U.S. trade policies and retaliatory measures from U.S. trading partners as well as ongoing instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe are raising the risk for global supply chain disruption, Descartes said. "The full impact of tariffs — and the May 2 expiration of the de minimis exemption — has yet to be reflected in import volumes from China," Descartes said, referring to popular duty-free access for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
