October 14, 2025
U.S. ports handled 2.32 million twenty-foot equivalent units in August
According to the latest data released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.32 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units - one 20-foot container or its equivalent - in August. That was down 2.9% from July's 2.39 million TEU - the peak month for the year - but up 0.1% year over year.
Ports have not yet reported numbers for September, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 2.12 million TEU, down 6.8% year over year.
October is forecast at 1.97 million TEU, down 12.3% year over year, and November at 1.75 million TEU, down 19.2%. December is forecast at 1.72 million TEU, down 19.4% year over year for the slowest month since 1.62 million TEU in March 2023.
While the falling monthly totals are related to tariffs, the year-over-year percentage declines are both because of this year's early peak season and because imports in late 2024 were elevated by concerns over port strikes.
The first half of 2025 totaled 12.53 million TEU, up 3.7% year over year. The full year is forecast at 24.79 million TEU, down 2.9% from 25.5 million TEU in 2024.
January 2026 is forecast at 1.87 million TEU, down 16.1% year over year, and February 2026 is forecast at 1.77 million TEU, down 12.8%.
Source: NRF