U.S. container imports hit record volume in October, reaching an all-time high of 2,674,808 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to a report from Descartes Systems group.
Much of that increase came from China, as U.S. imports from China rose for a fourth consecutive month to 987,805 TEUs in October, the highest monthly volume since January 2025.
To accommodate the surge, the top East and Gulf Coast ports gained share over West Coast gateways while port transit delays increased modestly in October for the third consecutive month, though no signs of broad-based port congestion have appeared.
Overall, Descartes found that the report continues to reinforce U.S. maritime import resilience in the face of an uncertain global trade landscape.
“October’s record import volume shows that U.S. maritime trade remains strong, even as trade policy and shipping conditions continue to shift,” said Jackson Wood, VP, Product Management, Trade Regulations at Descartes. “Alongside current trade data, importers will want to continue to review tariff treatment, security risks on key shipping routes, and carrier routing decisions, which can add uncertainty to cost and transit planning.”
