Import volumes at major US container ports are expected to taper off for the rest of the year after an extended peak season that has kept docks busy since spring, according to the latest Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.
“US ports have seen high volume levels throughout this year’s longer-than-usual peak season and numbers are still strong even as the season winds down,” NRF vice-president for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold said.
“Unfortunately, these volumes have led to backups at some ports, particularly on the West Coast where cargo has sat for extended periods waiting to be transferred to rail cars. We’ve also seen the threat of a strike at the nation’s largest port complex in recent days. Nonetheless, most holiday merchandise is already here, and retailers are working closely with their supply chain partners to ensure that the supply of holiday gifts continues to flow smoothly.”
A strike was avoided at the beginning of November when International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26, which represents watchmen at several container terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, reached a short-term contract extension with the Pacific Maritime Association.
The contract has been extended three times for a few days at a time, most recently through 20 November, with no long-term agreement in place following the expiration of the previous contract in July 2025.
Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said this year’s extended peak season followed a similar pattern in 2025, when a series of tariff increases prompted retailers to bring merchandise into the US ahead of the measures taking effect.
“At the start of 2026, that surge appeared to have ended after the Supreme Court struck down high ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs. Expectations of another extended peak season consequently faded,” Hackett said. “However, new tariffs introduced in the second quarter prompted a renewed surge in imports beginning in May that continued through mid-October. Consumer spending supported this influx, with households continuing to buy despite rising inflation.”
US ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.37 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) of loaded imports in September, the latest month for which final figures are available. This was up 3.4% from August and 12.6% year on year, making September the busiest month of 2026 so far.
It was also the third-busiest month since Global Port Tracker began keeping records, behind July 2025, when volumes reached 2.39 million TEU, and May 2022, which recorded 2.4 million TEU.
Although ports have yet to report October figures, Global Port Tracker forecasts the month at 2.26 million TEU, up 9.1% year on year.
November imports are projected to reach 2.05 million TEU, an increase of 1.2%, while December is forecast at 2.03 million TEU, up 1.3%. These figures would bring total US imports for 2026 to 26 million TEU, up 2% from 25.4 million TEU in 2025.
The first half of 2026 recorded 12.7 million TEU, an increase of 1.1% compared with the same period last year.
Looking ahead, January 2027 imports are forecast at 2.04 million TEU, down 3% year on year. February is projected at 1.89 million TEU, a decrease of 0.5%, while March is expected to reach 1.92 million TEU, down 11.2%.
