Political turmoil and sudden changes in US relations with leading economies have not changed the statistics of trade in goods. This is evident in container imports to US ports. The changes in the US market can serve as an example for the European market. It turns out that tariff and non-tariff restrictions do not significantly hinder economic exchange. Prohibitive tariffs and administrative restrictions are proving ineffective as economic policies.

The ineffectiveness of restrictive customs policies was evident in container ports and trade balances in 2025. In January 2026, the US economy recovered after the holiday season. As a result, US container imports were 4.1% higher than in December 2025, reaching 2.32 million TEU, reports Jackson Wood, Director, Industry Strategy, Global Trade Intelligence, Descartes, in a recent report.

The European Union recently signed two important free trade agreements. EU countries must be prepared for the fact that, even in the event of turmoil in the US market, Asian suppliers will not immediately switch to the European market. However, they will transfer their experience in the US market to the European market.

American importers were more cautious in 2026 about importing goods from abroad, many of which were subject to additional tariffs. Consequently, 6.8% fewer containers of goods were unloaded at US container terminals than in January 2025. This result was not affected by the tariff wars with China.

Container imports at leading US ports. Source: Descartes Datamyne™

Containers from China in the US

In 2026, imports from China strengthened month-on-month, increasing by 9.3%. Importers of goods from China regained market share after a decline in shipments at the end of 2025. Even tariff restrictions and non-tariff restrictions did not significantly alter the trade deficit between leading suppliers and the US economy.

Fewer containers were in US ports in January than in the previous year, but more than in 2023 and 2024, when trade between the US and other countries was not subject to tariff and non-tariff restrictions. At the same time, changes in supply flows were noticeable. 2025 saw a shift in the main sea lanes. Shippers led liner services to adjust their services and schedules, while strengthening their connections, primarily in the Pacific. The increase in US imports from Southeast Asia partially offset the decline in shipments from China, according to Jackson Wood.

January 2026 is the fourth January in recent memory to see an increase in container supply at US terminals, following the decline in December. This clearly demonstrates that the US consumer market and industry cannot survive without imports. As a result, container shipments through the 10 largest US ports increased by over 92,000 TEU in January 2026. This represents a 4.9% increase compared to the previous month.

Containers in January 2026

Depending on market activity on the American continent, individual ports performed differently. Terminals located at the Port of Houston recorded a record 28.5% increase in container throughput, with an increase of over 39.3 TEU. Oakland saw a decrease of 15.2%, reaching approximately 11,300 TEU. Growth was also clearly visible on the Atlantic side. New York/Newark saw an 8.3% increase in container supply, reaching approximately 25,000 TEU.

US Trade Balance with Leading Markets. Source: USA Import Data

More containers were also shipped in Tacoma (10.8%), Savannah (2.5%), Norfolk (3.7%), and Long Beach (2%). Philadelphia remained stable, with a mere 0.1% increase. January was a worse month for container terminals in Los Angeles, where shipments fell 1% to 4,162 TEU. Charleston saw just over 3,000 TEU (a 3.2% decrease). Overall, the January increase illustrates that import container supply at the 10 largest US ports was relatively stable at the beginning of 2026.

The turmoil related to US commodity policy was not felt at the beginning of this year. In January 2026, US container imports from China increased by 9.3% month-on-month, exceeding 771,000 TEU. It should be noted, however, that this was a marked decline of 22.7% year-on-year and a 24.6% drop compared to the July peak reached in 2024. And yet, tariff restrictions did not reduce Americans’ appetite for products from China.

 

Therefore, China’s share of total container imports to the US increased to 33.3% in the first month of 2026. In January of this year, the downward trend observed over the previous two months (December 2025: 31.7%, November 2025: 32.7%) reversed. This is important information for those who advocate for defending the EU market against Chinese goods and for making sudden changes in production chains and logistics connections.

Chinese Goods in Containers

The US market still cannot do without and is unwilling to abandon Chinese consumer goods. Therefore, it is worth examining the structure of US imports in relation to demand generated by European consumers. The structure of American consumer demand is unlikely to change for the foreseeable future.

Therefore, in January 2026, consumer goods such as furniture and bedding continued to dominate. At the beginning of the year, over 126,000 TEUs of these items were unloaded at ports. These items accounted for 16.4% of imports from China. Plastics were imported in containers close behind (15.4%). Clothing, footwear, and other textiles accounted for 6.5% of the total containers, while toys and sporting goods accounted for 5.8% of imports.

Demand for production inputs from China remains strong. American industry imported electrical machinery and equipment in January, which accounted for 18.3% of the total containers imported to the US market. The situation in European Union countries in these categories appears to be no better.

Descartes analysts clearly concluded that “Overall, the January category breakdown indicates a stable import structure.” Despite the ongoing uncertainty in international trade, both the consumer goods and industrial goods markets cannot do without supplies from China.

Therefore, in January 2026, container volumes originating from China at the 10 largest US ports increased by 9.1% (nearly 60,300 TEU). This was a clear rebound after a weak December last year. February traditionally saw a decline in container supply due to the Lunar New Year.

However, the Year of the Fire Horse will also be noticeable at US container terminals. After a strong January and a weaker February, we can expect a dominance in 2026 of containers from China or Chinese goods transiting through container ports in Asia or Latin America. In 2026, containerized goods will also flow extensively on liner services from India and Vietnam. Supplies will be supplemented by shipments from Thailand, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

Fot. Depositphotos