Import levels to remain steady amid tariff turmoil

Global Port Tracker projects February’s imports at 2.07 million TEU, up 6.1% year-over-year.

While American tariffs on foreign goods continue to be in flux, import levels at the nation’s major container ports are expected to remain steady throughout the spring.

According to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.22 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) – one 20-foot container or its equivalent – in January, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was up 4.4% from December and up 13.4% year-over-year. 

Ports have not yet reported February’s numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 2.07 million TEU, up 6.1% year-over-year. NRF notes that this would be the busiest February – traditionally the slowest month of the year because of Lunar New Year factory shutdowns in China – in three years. March is forecast at 2.14 million TEU, up 10.8% year-over-year; April at 2.13 million TEU, up 5.7%; May at 2.14 million TEU, up 2.8%; June at 2.07 million TEU, down 3.2%, and July at 1.99 million TEU, down 13.9%.

[READ MORE: NRF: February sales see monthly dip over tariff concern]

President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on goods from China in February, then increased the amount to 20% last week. A 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico first announced in February was delayed until last Tuesday, then put on hold for a month for goods compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact signed during Trump’s first administration.