China-origin imports continued to weaken, accounting for 31.7% – the lowest December share in the last six years.

US containerised imports fell by 5.9% in December 2025 when compared to a year earlier, as shipments from China continued to fall, pushing Beijing’s share of the market to its lowest December level in six years, according to data from Descartes Systems Group. Total US container imports reached 2.23m TEU in December, up 2.0% month on month, reflecting a typical seasonal stabilisation after a sharper slowdown in November. Despite periods of resilience earlier in the year, full-year 2025 import volumes ended 0.4% below 2024 levels, reversing what was nearly 10% year-over-year growth at the start of the year. Descartes noted that the decline was likely due to early-year front-loading giving way to slower growth, shifting sourcing patterns and persistent policy uncertainty “This gradual softening likely reflects a combination of frontloaded shipments in early 2025, tariff-driven
volatility and a potentially cooling economic environment, which collectively narrowed and ultimately eliminated annual container import growth,” Descartes said.

Top 10 US port volumes rebound modestly in December

After the typical seasonal slowdown in November, container volumes across the top 10 U.S. ports increased by 35,853 TEU in December 2025. Performance across individual ports was mixed. Los Angeles recorded the largest increase, rising 9.2% (35,948 TEU), while Oakland increased 7.3% (5,024 TEU) and Long Beach posted a more modest 2.2% gain (8,365 TEU). On the East Coast, some ports saw incremental growth, including Savannah (1.7%), Charleston (4.0%), and Norfolk (1.5%), while Philadelphia surged 32.4% (11,263 TEU), marking the strongest percentage increase among major gateways. Not all ports participated in the rebound. New York/Newark declined 7.6% (24,652 TEU), alongside smaller pullbacks in Houston (5.2%) and Tacoma (3.1%). Overall, the modest December increase aligns with typical seasonal patterns.

China remains a major drag

Imports from China declined for a second consecutive month, slipping 1.0% from November, plunging 21.8% year on year and 31% below the July 2024 peak. According to Descartes, China accounted for 31.7% of US container imports in December, well below recent years and a sharp contrast to the 38–42% range recorded between 2019 and 2021.

China’s import mix in December remained concentrated in consumer goods and industrial inputs. Furniture and bedding (HS-94) remained the largest category at 115,353 TEU, accounting for 16.4% of China-origin imports, followed closely by plastics (HS-39) at 15.6%. Machinery (HS-84) and electrical machinery (HS-85) together represented 19.0% of total China-origin volumes, while toys and sporting goods (HS-95) accounted for 5.8%. Apparel categories remained relatively small contributors, with knit apparel (HS-61) and non-knit apparel (HS-62) together comprising just 3.0% of China-origin imports. “Overall, December’s category distribution underscores the continued shift in China-origin trade toward a narrower mix of goods, as policy pressures, sourcing diversification, and softer demand continue to weigh on volumes,” Descartes said.

On the operational side, port transit times improved modestly across East and Gulf Coast gateways, while West Coast conditions remained broadly stable, with no signs of widespread congestion. Descartes said its January logistics metrics point to a cautious start to 2026, as US–China trade measures, pending “Liberation Day” tariff rulings and ongoing Red Sea security risks continue to cloud the global trade outlook.

Southeast Asia offsets some declines

In December 2025, US containerized imports from the top 10 countries of origin declined 8.4% year-over-year, with a combined decrease of 143,200 TEU. The contraction was driven primarily by China, which fell 21.8% (196,730 TEU) and accounted for more than the total net decline. Additional year- over-year decreases were recorded from India (15.0%), Taiwan (13.2%), South Korea (7.1%) and Italy (1.0%). In contrast, several Southeast Asian origins posted strong year-over-year growth. Thailand increased 28.3% (24,511 TEU), Vietnam 21.5% (48,889 TEU), and Indonesia 19.6% (9,527 TEU). More modest gains were recorded from Japan (1.7%) and Hong Kong (1.1%).

“For US importers, 2025 was a year marked by volatility, uncertainty and slightly softening demand compared to 2024,” said Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes. “As the new year begins, global supply chains continue to grapple with numerous factors weighing on logistics costs and complexities, including ongoing tariff uncertainty, uneven sourcing shifts, and elevated geopolitical risk from Venezuela developments and the Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Hamas and Iran/Israel conflicts.”