Imports are anticipated to remain high at major U.S. container ports as shippers attempt to pre-empt levies on China and other manufacturing nations, according to the Global Port Tracker report released Monday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. For more details, visit the source.

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The ongoing frontloading, persisting from late last year through 2025, shows no sign of waning. Data from IndexBox confirms that U.S. ports, excluding New York, New Jersey, and Miami, managed 2.14 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in December, a drop of 0.9% from November yet a remarkable 14.4% increase year-over-year, marking the busiest December recorded. Throughout 2024, container throughput reached 25.5 million TEUs, a 14.8% rise compared to the previous year, closely approaching the pandemic peak of 25.8 million TEUs in 2021.

NRF’s Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, Jonathan Gold, stated, “Frontloading is just one way retailers are trying to cope with the effects of tariffs in the near term.” While advocating for border security to combat the fentanyl crisis, Gold warned that new tariffs on imports from countries like China could result in higher prices for American consumers. These tariffs, along with the looming threat of union strikes, have historically driven the frontloading trend.

The White House recently announced tariffs set at 25% on most imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on goods from China. Although the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports were temporarily suspended, the tariffs on China took effect on February 4, adding another layer of complexity to shipping strategies.

Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett noted that, despite the evolving scenario, their projections for North American imports remain steady for the next six months. The International Longshoremen’s Association, having reached a tentative agreement with U.S. Maritime Alliance, plans to present their new contract to members for ratification soon. Projections for the early months of 2025 indicate an increase in TEU volumes despite seasonal slowdowns. January is estimated at 2.11 million TEUs, up 7.8% annually, while February is expected to handle 1.96 million TEUs, a mere 0.2% increase year-over-year. March forecasts suggest a jump to 2.14 million TEUs, marking an 11.1% rise, followed by April with 2.18 million TEUs, up 8.2%, and May with a 5.4% increase to 2.19 million TEUs. A slight decline of 0.6% to 2.13 million TEUs is anticipated for June.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform