U.S. imports flat in October amid ongoing trade uncertainty

Descartes Systems Group released its November Global Shipping Report, showing that U.S. container imports held steady in October, reflecting ongoing importer caution amid shifting trade and economic conditions.

According to data from Descartes Datamyne, U.S. container import volumes totaled 2,306,687 TEUs in October 2025, down just 0.1% from September and 7.5% lower than the same month last year. It was only the second time in a decade that October saw a month-on-month decline, underscoring restrained importer sentiment heading into the holiday season.

Trade Trends and Country Insights

Imports from the top 10 countries of origin rose 1.3% month-over-month, with China leading at +5.4%, followed by Japan (+25.2%), Italy (+13.0%), and South Korea (+8.2%). Despite this modest rebound, overall imports from these top trading partners dropped 9.4% year-over-year, driven mainly by China’s 16.3% decline.

Top U.S. import categories from China also saw sharp annual contractions — toys and sporting goods (-30.4%), furniture and bedding (-13.6%), and electrical machinery (-17.2%) — as companies exercised caution amid tariff uncertainties.

Port Activity and Regional Shifts

Port volumes showed a shift back to the West Coast, which accounted for 44.2% of total U.S. container imports, while the East and Gulf Coasts fell to 40.7%, marking their first decline in share since June. Moreover, port transit times increased modestly across most major U.S. ports compared to September.

Market Outlook

For the first ten months of 2025, total imports were 0.9% higher than the same period last year. However, growth momentum has slowed sharply — from nearly 10% above 2024 levels in January to less than 1% in October — due to earlier frontloading, persistent trade volatility, and weakening consumer demand.

“Despite an uptick in imports from China, overall U.S. volumes were essentially flat,” said Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes. “This reflects ongoing caution among U.S. importers facing geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty, which continues to add complexity and risk to global supply chains.”

The report highlights that while holiday demand remains steady, importers are carefully managing inventory and avoiding overexposure amid evolving global trade dynamics.

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