News
U.S. container imports totaled 2.55 million TEUs in September, down 2.2% from August and up 10.3% from September 2025, according to Descartes Systems Group. It was the highest September volume on record. September imports, however, declined 2.2% from August, a smaller pullback than the 8.4% decline in 2025.Through the first nine months of 2026, container imports rose a slight 0.8% from the same period last year.
Imports from China reached 924,454 TEUs, up 4.5% from August and 21.2% from September 2025. China represented 36.3% of total U.S. container imports, up from 34.0% in August.
Imports from the top 10 countries of origin increased by just 354 TEUs month on month, effectively unchanged. China gained 40,136 TEUs (4.5%); India, 6,791 TEUs (6.2%); and Taiwan, 3,359 TEUs (6.1%). Imports from the other seven countries declined. Those from Germany fell 15,213 TEUs (22.7%); Thailand, 11,609 TEUs (9.4%); South Korea, 9,980 TEUs (9.8%); Indonesia, 6,659 TEUs (9.7%); and Vietnam, 6,166 TEUs (2.1%).
Imports from the top 10 countries of origin increased by 213,339 TEUs year on year, up 13.1%. China led with a gain of 161,682 TEUs (21.2%). Hong Kong added 16,908 TEUs (24.8%); Vietnam ,11,915 TEUs (4.3%); Japan, 10,683 TEUs (24.3%); South Korea, 8,256 TEUs (9.9%); and Taiwan 6,654 TEUs (12.9%). Imports from Germany, India, and Indonesia declined by 3,302 TEUs, 2,798 TEUs, and 1,186 TEUs, respectively.
