Descartes: US Container Imports "Stalled" in October

The Descartes Systems Group has just released its November Global Transport Report, which highlights that U.S. container import volumes were nearly flat in October, while year-to-date (YTD) total volumes continued their downward trend.

Total import volume in October was 2,306,687 TEUs, a slight decrease of 0.1% from September and 7.5% lower than in October 2024.

The report indicates that the October logistics figures show caution on the part of importers amid prolonged trade uncertainty and potential front-loading activities that occurred in previous months, as importers adjusted to changing tariff schedules.

Year-Over-Year Growth Momentum Nearly Exhausted

One of the most notable points in the report is the significant narrowing of the growth margin. In the first 10 months of 2025, total volume was just 0.9% higher than the same period in 2024.

The growth margin compared to 2024 has continuously narrowed throughout the year—from nearly 10% in January down to less than 1% in October. This indicates that prolonged trade volatility, front-loading activities, and slowing consumer demand have significantly eroded growth momentum.

Sourcing Shifts: China Rebounds, Vietnam and India Decline

In terms of countries of origin, imports from the top 10 countries increased slightly by 1.3% month-over-month (MoM).

This modest recovery was driven by China, with a 5.4% increase (equivalent to 41,129 TEUs) compared to September. However, when compared year-over-year (YoY), volume from China was still down sharply by 16.3%.

Other markets recording significant month-over-month growth include:

•    Japan (+25.2%)

•    Italy (+13.0%)

•    South Korea (+8.2%)

Conversely, other major markets saw month-over-month declines:

•    India (-19.0%)

•    Thailand (-6.0%)

•    Vietnam (-4.8%)

•    Germany (-3.8%)

Commenting on the figures, Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes, said: “Despite an increase in volumes from China, overall U.S. container imports dipped slightly in October compared to September. October’s performance likely signals ongoing caution among U.S. importers facing persistent geopolitical friction and regulatory volatility, which drive higher levels of supply chain uncertainty and complexity as policies shift and evolve quickly.”

The report also noted that, compared to September, port transit time delays increased slightly in October at most top U.S. ports.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Marine Link)

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