Descartes Feb. Global Shipping Report: US imports hit record high for the month of January

Descartes Systems Group, the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, released its February Global Shipping Report for logistics and supply chain professionals. U.S. container imports reached a record for the month of January at 2,487,470 TEUs. The surge comes amid a backdrop of tariff volatility, with the U.S. imposing a new 10% tariff on Chinese goods as of February 4 while more aggressive 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada were paused until March to allow for further negotiations. Despite elevated volumes for a seventh consecutive month, overall port transit time delays are not significantly lengthening at the top 10 U.S. ports. Imports from China were up for a second month, with January volumes reaching 997,909 TEUs, a notable 10.6% rise over December and just 2.4% shy of the all-time high of 1,022,912 TEUs set in July 2024. The February update of the logistics metrics monitored by Descartes underscores a strong start to 2025; however, new U.S. tariffs on China, continuing trade policy tensions and ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East are adding uncertainty for businesses with global supply chains.

U.S. container import volumes hit new high for the month of January. At 2,487,470 TEUs, U.S. container imports in January 2025 reached record-breaking volumes for the month, surpassing the previous record in January 2022 by 21,455 TEUs (see Figure 1). Compared to December 2024, January 2025 volumes were up by 5.1% and by 9.4% over January 2024.
Figure 1. U.S. Container Import Volume Year-over-Year Comparison

“The impact of new and potential tariffs, coupled with a late Chinese Lunar New Year (January 29 – February 12), may have contributed to higher U.S. container imports in January,” said Jackson Wood, Director, Industry Strategy at Descartes. “These trade policy developments add significant uncertainty to global supply chains, increasing concerns about rising import costs and supply chain disruptions. As trade tensions escalate, businesses and consumers alike may face the risk of higher prices and prolonged market volatility.”
The February report is Descartes’ forty-second installment since beginning its analysis in August 2021. To read past reports, learn more about the key economic and logistics factors driving global shipping, and review strategies to help address it in the near-, short- and long-term, visit Descartes’ Global Shipping Resource Center.