As autumn's chill typically ushers in a period of relative calm for the shipping industry, this September witnessed an unexpected surge in U.S. import activity that defied traditional seasonal patterns. This anomaly raises questions about the underlying market dynamics reshaping global trade flows.
West Coast Ports Lead Unseasonal Growth
According to the latest global shipping report from Descartes, a Waterloo-based logistics software provider, U.S. container imports saw an atypical 0.3% month-over-month increase in September, reaching 2,203,452 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). This contrasts sharply with the customary seasonal decline observed during this period.
The nation's top ten ports collectively handled 0.7% more containers (13,365 TEUs) than in August. The Port of Long Beach emerged as the standout performer with an 11.2% surge (37,363 TEUs), while Tacoma posted the most dramatic growth at 31.6% (19,493 TEUs). These gains offset declines at Los Angeles (-5.3%, 21,693 TEUs) and the Port of New York and New Jersey (-4.8%, 17,036 TEUs).
This performance boosted West Coast ports' market share to 43.3%, a 1.4 percentage point increase from August. Meanwhile, East Coast and Gulf Coast ports saw their combined share shrink to 42.1%. Large ports collectively strengthened their dominance, accounting for 85.4% of total imports.
China's Export Resurgence Contrasts With European Declines
Imports from the top ten countries of origin grew 1.7% (26,704 TEUs), with China leading the expansion by adding 34,850 TEUs. This rebound underscores China's enduring role in global supply chains. Conversely, Italy experienced the steepest decline, shipping 14,470 fewer TEUs to U.S. ports.
Diverging Port Congestion Patterns
September brought mixed results in port congestion. West Coast facilities generally saw improved turnaround times, with Los Angeles reducing processing periods by 1.2 days. Houston stood as the only major West Coast port without improvement. Meanwhile, East Coast ports faced growing delays—Savannah's processing times lengthened by 2.2 days.
Market Forces Behind the Anomaly
Industry analysts attribute this atypical growth to multiple factors:
1. Resilient Consumer Demand:
Despite inflationary pressures and rising interest rates, U.S. consumers continue demonstrating spending stamina.
2. Early Inventory Buildup:
Retailers appear to be stockpiling earlier than usual to hedge against potential supply chain disruptions during the approaching holiday season.
3. Strategic Trade Timing:
Some businesses may have accelerated September shipments to preempt possible trade policy changes or tariff implementations.
The outlook remains uncertain as conflicting forces—including global economic headwinds, geopolitical tensions, and evolving supply chain conditions—could either constrain or sustain import volumes in coming months.