US seaport container imports fall in January after tariff-driven surge last year

US container imports totalled 2,318,722 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) in January, exceeding the historical average for the month. This likely points to a more normalised trade environment shaped by steady demand rather than frontloading activity, Descartes said.

Imports from China totalled 771,093 TEU last month. This was down 22.7 per cent from January 2025.

China accounted for one-third of total US imports last month.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Baird Maritime)