US demand for imported goods unabated, despite tariff turbulence
US container imports rose 4.5% in July, according to Descartes data, with China-origin cargo reaching its highest monthly level since July 2025, as demand continued to defy the turbulent trade and geopolitical backdrop.
Descartes revealed that 2.51 million teu entered the US last month, up from 2.4m teu in June. Volumes were 4.3% below July 2025's near-record 2.62m teu, but were 14.1% above pre-pandemic July 2019.
The report found China accounted for much of July's monthly increase, imports from the PRC rising 7.2% from June, to 873,129 teu, which took its share of total US container imports to 34.8%, up from 33.9% in June.
However last month's tally was 5.4% below July 2025, when suspected tariff front-loading pushed China-origin imports to 923,075 teu - but was the strongest monthly total since then.
The rise suggests US import demand is showing a slight rebound, despite tariffs, shifting sourcing strategies, and disruption across major maritime routes.
US imports from the top ten countries of origin were up 4.9% month on month, with China accounting for 58,655 of the 83,706 teu increase. Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and India also recorded gains.
But compared with the same period last year, imports from the top ten were down 5.3% last month, with China responsible for roughly half the 99,779 teu decline.
Overall, US imports for the first seven months of the yeat were just 0.9% down, year on year, suggesting the market has largely absorbed the impact of tariff changes and geopolitical uncertainty without a major demand collapse.
Descartes also explained that July's figures followed the normal seasonal pattern of higher volumes during the peak shipping period.
The ten top US gateways handled 5.1% more cargo last month than in June, Long Beach surging 15.8% and Houston 19.9%. West coast ports increased their share of imports to 45%, while east and Gulf coast gateways accounted for 39.8%. Imports through the latter being particularly strong, rebounding 13.8% from June. to 242,507 teu. and 8.3% above their rolling 12-month average.
There were signs of increasing operational pressure, however. Delays increased at most major gateways, with Long Beach seeing the sharpest deterioration, from an average of 2.3 days in June to 5.2 days in July. However, Los Angeles was the notable exception, with delays falling from 5.8 days to 1.8 days.
Descartes warned that importers would face continued uncertainty from changing US tariffs, tighter Panama Canal draught restrictions, Red Sea disruption, and elevated Strait of Hormuz risk.
However, the July numbers point to a market still moving substantial volumes despite those pressures - with China's resurgence providing the clearest indication that US import demand remains resilient.
NOTE: Maritime consultant John McCown has previously highlighted discrepancies within Descartes data and noted that it was "unclear" what process the Canadian company used to obtain information prior to official port or customs releasing their container volume counts.
