Amid a backdrop of tariff volatility, with the U.S. imposing a new 10% tariff on Chinese goods as of February 4 while more aggressive 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada were paused until March, U.S. container imports reached a record for January at 2,487,470 TEUs.
This figure came from the February Global Shipping Report. issued by Descartes Systems Group on Februrary 10.
Despite elevated volumes for a seventh consecutive month, overall port transit time delays are not significantly lengthening at the top 10 U.S. ports, the report notes.
Imports from China were up for a second month, with January volumes reaching 997,909 TEUs, a notable 10.6% rise over December and just 2.4% shy of the all-time high of 1,022,912 TEUs set in July 2024.
At 2,487,470 TEUs, U.S. container imports in January 2025 reached record-breaking volumes for the month, surpassing the previous record in January 2022 by 21,455 TEUs . Compared to December 2024, January 2025 volumes were up by 5.1% and by 9.4% over January 2024.
“The impact of new and potential tariffs, coupled with a late Chinese Lunar New Year (January 29 – February 12), may have contributed to higher U.S. container imports in January,” said Jackson Wood, director, Industry Strategy at Descartes, in a statement.
“These trade policy developments add significant uncertainty to global supply chains, increasing concerns about rising import costs and supply chain disruptions," Wood added. "As trade tensions escalate, businesses and consumers alike may face the risk of higher prices and prolonged market volatility.”
The February update of the logistics metrics monitored by Descartes underscores a strong start to 2025; however, new U.S. tariffs on China, continuing trade policy tensions and ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East are adding uncertainty for businesses with global supply chains.
