The data, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, revealed that US ports will handle 2.31 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) this month, up 9.6% on the same month last year and slightly above July’s total.

This would make September the busiest month for container imports in 2026, surpassing earlier forecasts that had placed the peak in May, when retailers accelerated shipments, totalling 2.24 million TEU in anticipation of possible tariff increases.

NRF supply chain and customs policy vice president Jonathan Gold said: “We thought the peak season would be mostly behind us by now, but that’s not the case. Some of the shift from earlier in the summer to now is because of vessel delays due to bad weather in China and some rerouting away from the Panama Canal amid potential drought conditions there. But consumers keep buying despite tariffs, inflation and high fuel prices, and retailers keep bringing in merchandise to meet demand.”

In July, the most recent month with finalised figures, US ports processed 2.3 million TEU, a 3.9% drop from July 2025 but a 3.2% increase from June 2026.

August figures from ports are not yet available, but Global Port Tracker estimates the month’s import volume at 2.29 million TEU, representing a 1.3% decrease compared to the previous year.

Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said that imports volumes have “remained buoyant” in recent months, even as the sector faced obstacles including tariff hikes, inflationary pressures, and elevated fuel prices linked to the situation in Iran.

“Retail sales remain strong and cargo is moving relatively smoothly, although there are reports of vessel delays and increased times required for cargo to move through the supply chain,” Ben Hackett said.

Next month, Global Port Tracker projects shipments to fall to 2.11 million TEU but would still mark a 1.7% annual increase.

In November, shipments are predicted to reach 2 million TEU, down 0.9%, and December at 2.03 million TEU, up 1.1%.

For the full year, total US import volume is forecast at 25.7 million TEU, a 1% increase over 2025’s 25.4 million TEU. The first half of 2026 saw a 1.1% rise over the corresponding 2025 period.

Looking ahead, January 2027 is anticipated to see 2.09 million TEU, down 1% year on year, according to Global Port Tracker projections.