Container import volumes entering the United States rose 11.5% year-over-year in May, supported by a recovery in cargo shipments from China following several months of softer activity, according to data released Tuesday by supply chain technology company Descartes Systems Group.
During the month, U.S. ports handled 2,428,758 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the standard industry measure used to track containerized cargo volumes.
Imports originating from China reached 816,197 TEUs, marking a 28.1% increase compared with May 2025. The strongest categories included plastics, furniture and bedding products, which accounted for a significant portion of the growth.
As a result, China’s share of total U.S. container imports increased to 33.6% in May, up from 29.9% recorded in April.
Industry analysts and shipping companies said the increase was partly driven by efforts from retailers and manufacturers to bring goods into the country ahead of a new round of proposed U.S. tariffs. Businesses have been accelerating orders to avoid potential cost increases once the measures take effect.
Market participants also noted that concerns surrounding the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran encouraged companies to build inventory levels. Fears of higher energy prices and potential disruptions to supplies of goods and raw materials linked to crude oil production have prompted many importers to secure stock in advance.
Despite the strong performance in May, total U.S. container import volumes for the first five months of 2026 remained 1.9% lower than the level recorded during the same period in 2025.