Early surge in US container imports coming to an end, shippers say
XLI•Shipping costs seen staying elevated
Nevertheless, Chen predicted ocean transport prices will stay elevated.
"The cost floor isn't moving: fuel and canal surcharges won't fall with demand."
Retailers expect to stay stocked for the holiday season
Retailers, which account for roughly half of U.S. container imports, are now adept at navigating supply-chain shocks, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.
"Retailers will be well stocked for the coming holiday season," Gold said.
Data on July container import volume is expected in the coming days.
The Global Port Tracker report expects August volume to fall 4.2% from a year earlier to 2.2 million 20-foot-equivalent units for seaports including Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey and Houston. It forecast a steady decline in imports each month for most of the rest of the year, although volumes will be above 2025 levels.
Import surge peaks as tariffs and fuel surcharges reshape shipping
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7 (Reuters) - An early seasonal surge in U.S. container import volume, driven by shippers racing to avoid higher fuel surcharges tied to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and new U.S. tariffs, is ending, according to research released on Friday.
The Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates expects import volume at the nation’s major container ports to remain high this month before declining for the rest of 2026.
