Washington — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports could reach its highest level of the year in September as an extended peak season continues, according to the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates’ latest Global Port Tracker report.
September import volume is forecast at 2.31 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), up 9.6 percent from a year ago and slightly above July’s 2.3 million TEU. One TEU represents one 20-foot container or its equivalent.
“We thought the peak season would be mostly behind us by now, but that’s not the case,” says Jonathan Gold, NRF vice-president for supply chain and customs policy. “Some of the shift from earlier in the summer to now is because of vessel delays due to bad weather in China and some rerouting away from the Panama Canal amid potential drought conditions there. But consumers keep buying despite tariffs, inflation and high fuel prices, and retailers keep bringing in merchandise to meet demand.”
U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.3 million TEU in July, the latest month for which final numbers are available. Volume was down 3.9 percent from a year earlier but increased 3.2 percent from June.
August volume is projected at 2.29 million TEU, down 1.3 percent year over year. As recently as last month, May’s 2.24 million TEU was expected to be the busiest month of 2026 after retailers brought in merchandise early ahead of potential tariff increases. Continued high import levels have instead extended the peak season into its traditional late-summer and early-fall period.
“Imports have remained buoyant over the past three months despite several hurdles,” says Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett, citing tariff increases, inflation, and rising fuel prices related to the conflict in Iran. “Retail sales remain strong and cargo is moving relatively smoothly, although there are reports of vessel delays and increased times required for cargo to move through the supply chain.”
Import volume is forecast to decline to 2.11 million TEU in October, up 1.7 percent year over year. November is projected at 2 million TEU, down 0.9 percent, followed by 2.03 million TEU in December, up 1.1 percent.
Global Port Tracker projects 2026 import volume will total 25.7 million TEU, a 1 percent increase from 25.4 million TEU in 2025. The first half of this year totaled 12.7 million TEU, up 1.1 percent from the same period a year earlier. January 2027 is forecast at 2.09 million TEU, down 1 percent year over year.
