Descartes Systems Group, the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, released its October Global Shipping Report for logistics and supply chain professionals.

U.S. container imports reached 2,546,261 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, the highest volume on record for the month. China-origin imports increased to 924,454 TEUs in September, up 4.5% month-over-month. West Coast ports gained share and several East and Gulf Coast gateways fell, while port transit delays increased at eight of the top 10 ports.

The October update of the logistics metrics monitored by Descartes continues to highlight the resilience of U.S. maritime imports in the face of a volatile trade environment.

U.S. container imports reach their highest September volume on record.

While month-over-month volumes dipped 2.2%, September volumes were the highest on record for the month (2,546,261 TEUs), 10.3% higher than in September 2025 (2,307,933 TEUs) and 24.8% above September 2019 (2,040,813 TEUs) (see Figure 1). Through the first nine months of 2026, import volumes were up a slight 0.8% compared to the same period in 2025, which is the first time this year that cumulative volumes posted a gain over 2025.

Figure 1. U.S. Container Import Volume Year-over-Year Comparison

Source: Descartes Datamyne™

Imports from China rise in September.

Imports from China totaled 924,454 TEUs in September 2026, increasing 4.5% from August and 21.2% from September 2025. As a percentage of total U.S. container imports, China volumes were up from 34.0% in August to 36.3% in September, led by plastics (HS-39), at 135,097 TEUs (14.6% of China-origin volume), followed by furniture and bedding (HS-94), at 123,574 TEUs (13.4%), and toys and sporting goods (HS-95), at 92,842 TEUs (about 10%). September imports from the top 10 CoO were essentially unchanged month-over-month (see Figure 2). While India and Taiwan also posted gains, seven of the top 10 CoOs posted declines that, combined, were largely offset by China’s increase.

Figure 2. August 2026 to September 2026 Comparison of U.S. Import Volumes from Top 10 Countries of Origin

Source: Descartes Datamyne™

“Record September import volumes show that U.S. maritime trade remains remarkably strong despite persistent trade and geopolitical pressures,” said Jackson Wood, VP, Product Management, Trade Regulations at Descartes. “Strong demand is coinciding, however, with rising port delays, evolving tariff requirements and continued risk across critical shipping corridors. For importers, maintaining visibility into changing costs, capacity and trade conditions and having the flexibility to adjust sourcing and routing decisions accordingly remains essential.”

Descartes began its global shipping analysis in August 2021 to help importers manage supply chain risk. To read past monthly reports, learn more about the key economic and logistics factors driving global shipping, and review strategies to help address challenges in the near-, short-, and long-term, visit Descartes’ Global Shipping Resource Center.