U.S. Container Imports Peak Early Amid Tariff Shifts

The early peak season for U.S. container imports is winding down after a surge of frontloading by retailers. This acceleration was driven by efforts to avoid new tariffs and mitigate supply chain uncertainties caused by conflict in Iran. Temporary 10% Section 122 global tariffs expired on July 23, followed immediately by new Section 301 tariffs on July 24. These new tariffs range from 10% to 12.5% and affect 99% of U.S. imports across 60 economies.

According to a Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, import volumes peaked in May with 2.24 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Volumes are expected to decline gradually through November before a slight rebound in December. Total imports for 2026 are projected at 25.5 million TEUs, a figure that remains essentially flat compared to 2025.

Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation, noted that retailers brought in merchandise early to respond to supply chain disruptions and tariff changes. Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, observed that consumer spending has remained resilient despite persistent geopolitical uncertainty and cost-of-living pressures.