August was the busiest month so far in 2026, as US ports tracked by Global Port Tracker handled 2.3 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), a figure up 0.4% from July’s total but down 0.7% year-over-year.
Projections for September indicate volumes will decline to 2.28 million TEU, though that would still represent an 8.2% increase compared to the same month last year.
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NRF supply chain and customs policy vice president Jonathan Gold said: “Even with any fluctuations in final data, we’re likely past the busiest part of the year. 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 remainder of the year is just a matter of 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.”
Forecasts for the months ahead point to a gradual reversion to typical post-peak levels. October imports are expected to reach 2.25 million TEU, an 8.5% rise year-over-year.
November is projected at 2 million TEU, down 1%, while December is estimated to see 2.02 million TEU, a 0.6% increase.
The data suggests that consumers can expect retail shelves to remain well-stocked through the holiday period.
While shipping volumes remain robust, Hackett Associates’ founder Ben Hackett noted that “core economic indicators are broadly flat or weakening slightly month over month recently,” despite consumer spending demonstrating resilience in the face of inflationary pressures.
Hackett added: “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.”
Currently, year-to-date figures illustrate overall growth compared to last year. The Global Port Tracker estimates total 2026 TEU volume will reach 25.8 million, up 1.4% from the 25.4 million TEU recorded in 2025.
The first half of 2026 saw 12.7 million TEU, marking a 1.1% increase for the same period year-over-year.
The outlook for early 2027 points to a modest dip, with January forecasts at 2.07 million TEU, down 1.9% annually, and February predicted at 1.92 million TEU, representing a 1% rise year-over-year.
Global Port Tracker covers major US container ports, including 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, as well as Houston on the Gulf Coast.
