The Global Shipping Report for October was released by the Descartes Systems Group, showing that U.S. container imports reached 2,546,261 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in September 2026. This figure is the highest recorded volume for this month and represents a 10.3% increase compared to September 2025 (2,307,933 TEU) and a 24.8% increase compared to September 2019 (2,040,813 TEU).
Analysis of Imports from China
Imports from China in September reached 924,454 TEU, reflecting a 4.5% increase compared to the previous month and a 21.2% increase compared to September 2025. These imports included various products such as plastics (HS-39) amounting to 135,097 TEU (14.6% of the volume from China), furniture and bedding (HS-94) at 123,574 TEU (13.4%), and toys and sporting goods (HS-95) at 92,842 TEU (about 10%). Overall, in September, imports from the top ten source countries remained relatively stable.
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Logistical Challenges and Future of Imports
The report also noted an increase in transit delays at eight of the ten major U.S. ports. Jackson Wood, Vice President of Product Management and Trade Regulations at Descartes, stated that despite ongoing trade and geopolitical pressures, the volumes recorded in September demonstrate the significant strength of U.S. maritime trade. At the same time, strong demand has coincided with increasing delays at ports and evolving tax requirements. For importers, maintaining visibility on changing costs, capacity, and trade conditions, as well as having the flexibility to adjust sourcing and routing decisions, is essential.
The Descartes Group has been providing global shipping analytics since August 2021 to help importers manage supply chain risk.
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