US container imports reach third-highest level ever at 2.6M TEUs

American ports just processed 2,603,709 twenty-foot equivalent units of container imports in August, a figure topped only twice in the history of US trade. According to Descartes Systems Group’s September Global Shipping Report, that makes it the third-busiest month for inbound containers ever recorded, behind May 2022 and July 2025.

The number represents a 3.8% jump from July and a 3.3% climb compared to August of last year. Imports are running 21.5% above August 2019 levels, which serves as a useful pre-pandemic benchmark for what “normal” used to look like.

Where the boxes are coming from, and where they’re landing

China remains the dominant origin country, contributing 884,318 TEUs in August. But its share of total US imports dipped slightly, falling to 34% from 34.8% in July.

That marginal decline coincided with notable gains from alternative sourcing countries. Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia all posted meaningful increases. Nine of the top ten sourcing countries saw sizeable import growth during the month.

On the port side, eight of the top ten US container ports posted increases. New York/Newark added 24,122 TEUs, Savannah gained 22,761 TEUs, and Long Beach picked up 12,945 TEUs.

From June through August, the Port of Los Angeles processed over 2.9 million TEUs, the busiest three-month stretch in the port’s history.

The year-to-date picture

Year-to-date imports through August registered a modest 0.4% decline compared to the same period in 2025.

Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes, characterized the elevated import level as evidence of sustained demand persisting alongside ongoing trade risks.

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