Descartes Releases September Global Shipping Report: August U.S. Containerized Imports Reach Third-Highest Level on Record Amid Persistent Trade Risk

Descartes Systems Group, a global logistics leader, published its September Global Shipping Report, focusing on logistics and supply chain professionals. In August 2026, U.S. container imports surged by 3.8% from July, reaching a volume of 2,603,709 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking the third-highest monthly total on record. Only May 2022 and July 2025 surpassed this milestone, with 2,622,465 TEUs and 2,621,910 TEUs respectively. The only month to exceed this figure was August 2025 with 2,621,910 TEUs.

In August, China-origin imports showed a modest 1.3% increase compared to the previous month, while imports from the top 10 countries of origin rose by 3.5% month-over-month and 2.3% year-over-year. This broad growth across leading sourcing markets contributed to the overall increase in August imports.

Port transit delays stretched across all major U.S. gateways, reflecting ongoing trade challenges. The report highlights the resilience of U.S. maritime imports amidst persistent trade risks. August's container imports outpaced July by 3.3%, surpassing August 2025 by 21.5%. Import volumes through the first eight months of 2026 were 0.4% lower than the same period in 2025, narrowing the year-to-date gap.

China's container imports grew slightly in August, totaling 884,318 TEUs, up 1.3% from July and 1.7% from August 2025. However, China's share of total U.S. container imports decreased from 34.8% in July to 34.0% in August as imports from other countries surged more rapidly. Vietnam's imports rose by 14,545 TEUs (5.2%), while Thailand's increased by 11,633 TEUs (10.4%), Indonesia's by 11,198 TEUs (19.5%), and China's by 11,188 TEUs (1.3%). Germany recorded an 8.4% increase, South Korea 4.4%, and Hong Kong 2.7%.

Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes, noted that the surge in August imports underscores the strength of U.S. import demand. However, rising port delays, tighter Panama Canal capacity, expanded tariffs, and instability in the Middle East and Red Sea regions exacerbate supply chain complexities. He emphasized that timely trade intelligence and flexible sourcing and routing strategies are crucial for importers to manage costs and navigate changing conditions effectively.

Descartes started its global shipping analysis in August 2021 to assist importers in managing supply chain risks. The full report, key economic factors driving global shipping, and strategies to address challenges are available on Descartes’ Global Shipping Resource Center.