US container imports edged down in March, slipping 1.1 per cent year on year to 2,353,611 TEUs, according to data from supply chain technology provider Descartes Systems Group.
March volumes were still 32.3 per cent above March 2019 levels, although year-to-date volumes remain 4.8 per cent below 2025.
Descartes also reported that imports from China totalled 711,652 TEUs in March, down 6.7 per cent year on year. China accounted for 30.2 per cent of total US container imports during the month.
READ: Japan–US container trade falls 4 per cent in February
The latest figures follow earlier reporting that US container imports were forecast to remain below 2025 levels through the first half of 2026, amid tariff uncertainty and an unclear outlook linked to the conflict in Iran.
The two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on 8 April has yet to bring a meaningful recovery in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with container lines and other operators still treating the route with caution.
For more information:
Descartes Systems Group – https://www.descartes.com/home
