U.S. Container Imports Declined 5.1% in April 2026

The latest Global Port Tracker (GPT) report, released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, shows that cargo imports through major U.S. container ports declined in April 2026 following a period of growth.

April 2026 Import Volume Overview

Major U.S. ports handled a total of 2.05 million TEUs in April 2026.

This represented a 5.1% decrease compared with March and a 7.3% decline year-over-year from April 2025.

Note: The aggregated figures do not include data from the Port of New York and New Jersey, as the port had not yet released its April throughput statistics at the time of reporting.

Despite the decline in April, the NRF expects import volumes to experience a temporary rebound in May and June. The anticipated recovery is largely driven by retailers accelerating shipments to mitigate potential risks associated with future tariff increases while also responding to elevated transportation and fuel costs.

Pressure from Rising Costs and Geopolitical Uncertainty

Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the NRF, noted that rising costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties continue to have a significant impact on import activities across the United States.

From a market perspective, Ben Hackett, Founder of Hackett Associates, believes that June could post positive year-over-year growth due to a relatively low comparison base from the same period last year, when import volumes fell sharply following the implementation of new tariff measures.

According to Hackett, rising ocean freight costs and continued concerns over trade policy are placing additional pressure on global supply chains and influencing import decisions made by businesses.

Import Volume Forecast for the Second Half of 2026

According to Global Port Tracker, container imports through major U.S. ports are forecast to develop as follows:

●    May: 2.14 million TEUs, up 9.7% year-over-year

●    June: 2.25 million TEUs, continuing the short-term recovery trend

●    July: 2.19 million TEUs, down 8.4% year-over-year

●    August: 2.12 million TEUs, down 8.6% year-over-year

●    September: 2.06 million TEUs, down 2.2% year-over-year

●    October: 2.08 million TEUs, broadly in line with the previous year

The report suggests that import activity could slow during the second half of the year following the current wave of front-loaded shipments by retailers and importers.

Nevertheless, total container imports during the first six months of 2026 are projected to reach approximately 12.6 million TEUs, representing a modest 0.6% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Market Outlook

Current market developments indicate that U.S. import activity is being shaped by a combination of trade policy, logistics costs, and geopolitical factors. Retailers’ efforts to accelerate imports ahead of potential tariff changes may generate a short-term recovery in May and June, but this momentum is unlikely to be sustained throughout the second half of the year.

As businesses continue to adjust inventory strategies and manage tariff-related risks, import volumes through U.S. ports are expected to remain volatile rather than returning to the strong growth trajectory seen in previous years.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Container News)

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