U.S. container imports rise slightly in December, 2025 ends below 2024

Descartes Systems Group, a global leader in connecting logistics-intensive businesses, released its January Global Shipping Report.

In December 2025, U.S. container imports reached 2,227,316 TEUs, up 2% from November. This modest increase follows the sharper slowdown in November and reflects typical seasonal stabilization. For the full year, total imports closed at 28,079,201 TEUs, slightly below 2024’s 28,196,462 TEUs.

Imports from China continued their decline, dropping 1% month-over-month and 21.8% compared to December 2024. China accounted for just 31.7% of total U.S. imports in December, the lowest December share in six years.

Port conditions varied by region. East and Gulf Coast transit times improved moderately. West Coast ports remained stable, with no widespread congestion.

The report notes that global trade remains cautious as 2026 begins. Factors such as U.S.-China trade measures, pending Liberation Day tariff rulings, and Red Sea security risks continue to influence supply chain uncertainty.

Looking at top countries of origin, China drove most of the year-over-year decline. Other drops came from India (-15%), Taiwan (-13.2%), South Korea (-7.1%), and Italy (-1%). Southeast Asian countries posted gains, including Thailand (+28.3%), Vietnam (+21.5%), and Indonesia (+19.6%). Japan and Hong Kong showed smaller increases.

“For U.S. importers, 2025 was a year of volatility and slightly softening demand,” said Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes. “Global supply chains face ongoing challenges from tariff uncertainty, shifting sourcing patterns, and elevated geopolitical risks, including developments in Venezuela, the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and tensions in the Middle East.”

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