February 11, 2025 – Record-Breaking US Container Imports in January Amid Tariff-Driven Stockpiling Frenzy
As the looming “February 4th Tariff Day” threatened by Donald Trump drew near, the volume of container imports into the United States unexpectedly surged to an all-time high for the month of January. According to the latest data from Descartes, a renowned supply chain data provider, the total container imports at US seaports reached 24,874,700 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) in January, marking a 9.4% increase from the same period last year and eclipsing the previous record set in January 2022.
This figure indicates that the number of imported containers handled by US seaports has stabilized around 2.4 million TEUs for seven consecutive months, during which the ports successfully avoided severe congestion, in stark contrast to previous disruptions caused by surges.
AsiaMB has learned that there are signs that some US importers are rushing to stock up on goods ahead of the anticipated new tariffs and other potential supply chain disruptions. Over the past few months, prices of various commodities, ranging from plastic toys to mechanical parts, have increased, reflecting the market’s nervous sentiment to some extent.
Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order announcing an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods effective February 4th. Additionally, he had threatened to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada but subsequently suspended it until March for further negotiations.
Descartes’ data reveals a notable increase in the number of containers from China processed by US seaports in January. Imports from China reached 997,909 TEUs that month, representing a year-on-year growth of 10.2% and a month-on-month increase of 10.6%. This figure accounts for nearly 40% of all imported container handling at US seaports.
The report analysis points out that this growth is primarily driven by importers accelerating shipments ahead of the recently announced and implemented tariffs on China. Meanwhile, the impact of the Chinese Lunar New Year cannot be overlooked. Shipments typically increase before the holiday, creating uncertainty for importers and potentially disrupting trade flows in the coming months.
Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes, stated that the impact of new and potential tariffs, coupled with the Chinese Lunar New Year, collectively fueled the increase in US container imports in January. These developments in trade policies have introduced significant uncertainty into global supply chains, intensifying concerns about rising import costs and supply chain disruptions. As trade tensions escalate, businesses and consumers may face the risk of higher prices and long-term market volatility.
The report also shows that the primary containerized goods imported from China to the US in January included furniture, bedding, plastics and plastic products, as well as boilers and machinery. Additionally, container imports from Vietnam also showed notable growth, while those from Germany decreased significantly by 17%.