US imports of containerised goods in July hit the fourth-highest level for the month, as shippers rushed in goods ahead of unknown US tariff changes, supply chain technology provider Descartes Systems Group said on Monday.
US seaports handled 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) in July, down 4.3 per cent from the near-record result in July 2025. Through the first seven months of 2026, imports were down 0.9 per cent year over year while remaining well above pre-Covid pandemic levels, Descartes said.
In late July, 10 per cent global Section 122 tariffs expired and were replaced by new tariffs of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 countries tied to allegations of forced labour.
Chinese-origin imports rose to 873,129 TEU in July, the highest monthly volume in a year. China sends more goods via container to the US than any other country, even after President Donald Trump has targeted such products with tariffs.
Retailers like Walmart, Amazon.com and Home Depot account for roughly half of all US container imports.
The traditional peak shipping season tied to their imports of goods for autumn and winter holiday promotions has been arriving earlier and over a longer period of time as shippers have responded to a string of supply-chain upheavals ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing US and Israeli war on Iran to rapidly changing US tariff policies.
"The broader trade environment remains unsettled. Elevated Strait of Hormuz risk, changing US tariff measures, tighter Panama Canal draft restrictions, and continued Red Sea disruption are influencing freight costs, routing decisions, and sourcing strategies," Descartes said.
(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Mark Porter)
