In August 2026, US ports handled 2,603,709 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container imports. This volume marks the third-highest monthly figure in history, trailing only May 2022 and July 2025. The result represents a 3.8% increase from July and a 3.3% rise compared to August 2025. Current import levels remain 21.5% higher than in August 2019.
China remains the primary source of US imports, accounting for 884,318 TEUs in August. However, its market share decreased to 34% from 34.8% in July. Meanwhile, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia recorded growth in export volumes. Overall, nine of the top ten sourcing countries saw an increase in shipments to the United States during the month.
Eight of the ten largest US container ports reported growth in August. The port of New York/Newark increased its volume by 24,122 TEUs, Savannah by 22,761 TEUs, and Long Beach by 12,945 TEUs. Additionally, the Port of Los Angeles processed over 2.9 million TEUs between June and August, marking its busiest three-month period on record.
Despite the monthly growth, total imports for the year through August show a 0.4% decline compared to the same period in 2025. Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes Systems Group, noted that these figures reflect sustained consumer demand despite ongoing trade uncertainties.
