Descartes Report: U.S. Container Imports Rebound 6.6% in May as China Shipments Surge 19.9%

Summary

U.S. container imports reached 2.43 million TEUs in May 2026, up 6.6% month-over-month and 11.5% year-over-year according to Descartes Datamyne data. China-origin imports surged 19.9% MoM to 816,197 TEUs, with China's share of total U.S. imports rising to 33.6%. India also posted a strong 22.2% MoM gain. East Coast and Gulf ports captured 44.8% of imports, with Savannah up 17% and Houston up 18.2%. Port transit delays normalized significantly, with Long Beach dropping from 7.3 days to just 2.2 days. However, year-to-date imports remain 1.9% below 2025 levels, and Strait of Hormuz disruptions and evolving U.S. trade policy continue to pose risks.