U.S. ports expected to end the year strong

Container traffic through U.S. ports is set to end strong, signaling a strong improvement in the outlook for 2025. Shippers hoarding imported cargo to avoid potential disruptions fueled the year-end surge, according to a recent report from Yahoo Finance. As suggested by the National Retail Federation, there are labor concerns and upcoming tariffs in the new year.

Also read: U.S. container shipping faces headwinds as peak season approaches

In November, U.S. ports handled 2.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), according to data from Global Port Tracking. The data, which does not include the ports of New York and New Jersey, was down 3.2% from October’s data but up 14.7% year-on-year. NRF expects December throughput to increase to 2.24 million TEU, a 19.2% year-on-year increase, which could push the full-year total to 25.6 million TEU, 15.2% higher than the 2023 record.

A potential crisis was averted as port employers and unionized dockworkers agreed on automating container handling, averting an imminent strike when a contract extension expires on January 15. “The new contract brings certainty and avoids disruption, and we hope to see it approved,” Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president of supply chain and customs policy, said in a press release. As the agreement was finalized late, retail Businesses are proactively importing spring goods to maintain adequate inventories amid expected supply disruptions.

President-elect Trump’s plan to escalate tariffs has also fueled a surge in imports, prompting retailers to prepare for future increases in consumer costs. However, the long-term impact on import levels is still being observed.

Data predict that import volume will remain stable next year, with January expected to be 2.16 million TEU, a year-on-year increase of 10%. February throughput is likely to have fallen 4.5% to about 1.87 million TEU, mainly due to Chinese factory shutdowns during the Lunar New Year period. March throughput may increase by 10.6% to 2.13 million TEU; April is expected to increase by 8% to 2.18 million TEU; May’s data may reach 2.2 million TEU, an increase of 5.9%.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform