According to Descartes’ latest Global Shipping Report, US container imports hit 2.60 million TEUs in August 2026, the third-largest monthly figure ever recorded. Volumes climbed 3.8% versus July and stood 3.3% above August 2025.

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During August, US ports moved 2,603,709 TEUs of containerised imports. That figure stayed just under the all-time high of 2,622,465 TEUs from May 2022 and the 2,621,910 TEUs logged in July 2025, the only two months with larger totals. August volumes also came in 21.5% higher than August 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Even so, imports across the first eight months of 2026 were 0.4% lower than the equivalent period a year earlier.

China’s Share Eases as Other Sources Expand

Shipments from China amounted to 884,318 TEUs, a 1.3% gain from July and a 1.7% rise year over year. China represented 34% of all US container imports, slipping from 34.8% in July as cargo from other sourcing markets expanded more quickly.

Combined imports from the top 10 countries of origin rose 3.5% month over month and 2.3% year over year. Among those top 10 origins, Vietnam posted the biggest absolute monthly gain, adding 14,545 TEUs, or 5.2%. Indonesia notched the largest percentage increase at 19.5%, while Thailand grew 10.4%. India was alone among the top 10 in registering a decline, down 0.8%.

Transit Delays Grow at Major Gateways

Despite the robust import figures, Descartes said transit delays widened at every major US gateway in August. Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes, said the 2.6 million TEU total shows US import demand is still strong. Wood noted that mounting port delays, Panama Canal capacity limits, tariff exposure and disruption in the Middle East and Red Sea are making global supply chains more complex.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform