Import volumes at major container ports in the United States are finally beginning to slow after persistently high levels over the summer, according to a Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.3 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), a 20-foot container or its equivalent, in August, the last month with final numbers available. The figure was down 0.7% from a year earlier but up 0.4% from July, potentially making August the year’s busiest volume month after an extended peak season.
Ports haven’t reported September numbers yet, but Port Tracker projected a month-over-month drop to 2.28 million TEU, up 8.2% year over year. Port Tracker is forecasting October to record 2.25 million TEU, up 8.5% year over year, November, 2 million TEU, down 1%, and December, 2.02 million TEU, up 0.6%.
Expected import volumes would bring 2026 to 25.8 million TEU, up 1.4% from 2025’s 25.4 million TEU. The first half of 2026 totaled 12.7 million TEU, up 1.1% from the first half of 2025.
As the calendar renews, Port Tracker is forecasting January 2027 volume at 2.07 million TEU, down 1.9% year over year and February at 1.92 million TEU, up 1%.
“Even with any fluctuations in final data, we’re likely past the busiest part of the year,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “The truth is that the peak season started early and was stretched out through the summer and early fall, with the difference from month to month often amounting to little more than a rounding error. Most holiday merchandise has arrived, and the rest of the year is just last-minute replenishment and preparation for early 2027. Consumers should find shelves well stocked with a wide range of choices to meet their needs and budgets for the holidays.”
Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett added, “Core economic indicators are broadly flat or weakening slightly month over month recently. Despite this, consumers appear to remain confident and cautious at the same time, with consumer confidence indexes sliding to multi-year lows while consumer spending continues to be robust in the face of increasing inflation.”
Global Port Tracker, produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, provides historical data and forecasts for the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.
