December 12, 2025
U.S. ports handled 2.07 million twenty-foot equivalent units in October
According to the latest data released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.07 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units one 20-foot container or its equivalent in October, although the Port of Charleston has not yet reported its data. That figure was down 1.8% from September and down 7.9% year over year.
Ports have not yet reported numbers for November, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.91 million TEU, down 11.6% year over year. December is forecast at 1.86 million TEU, down 12.7%. Following July's peak of 2.39 million TEU, November and December would be the slowest months of the year. And December would be the slowest month since 1.83 million TEU in June 2023.
November and December are traditionally slow, but the large year-over-year declines are partly because imports in late 2024 were elevated by concerns over port strikes. In addition, many retailers imported cargo earlier than usual this year to avoid tariffs.
The first half of 2025 totaled 12.53 million TEU, up 3.7% year over year. The full year is forecast at 25.2 million TEU, down 1.4% from 25.5 million TEU in 2024.
Cargo is expected to see its first month-over-month increase in six months in January, which is forecast at 2 million TEU but would still be down 10.3% year over year. February is forecast at 1.86 million TEU, down 8.5% year over year; March at 1.79 million TEU, down 16.8%, and April at 1.97, down 10.9%.
Source: NRF