Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy, National Retail Federation said, “We thought the peak season would be mostly behind us by now, but that is not the case. Some of the shift from earlier in the summer to now is because of vessel delays due to bad weather in China and some rerouting away from the Panama Canal amid potential drought conditions there. But consumers keep buying despite tariffs, inflation and high fuel prices, and retailers keep bringing in merchandise to meet demand.”
The National Retail Federation (NRF) said in the Global Port Tracker report with Hackett Associates that US ports covered by the report handled 2.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in July, the latest month with final numbers. The July volume was down 3.9 per cent from a year earlier but up 3.2 per cent from June.
US retail import peak season is extending, with September forecast at 2.31 million TEU, up 9.6 per cent year on year and potentially 2026’s busiest month.
Delays linked to China weather and Panama Canal rerouting are shifting cargo timing.
Retailers face elevated port volumes despite tariffs, inflation and high fuel prices before an expected October easing.
Ports had not yet reported August numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected August at 2.29 million TEU, down 1.3 per cent year on year (YoY). September was forecast at 2.31 million TEU, up 9.6 per cent YoY and slightly ahead of July as the expected busiest month of the year.
As recently as the previous month, May’s 2.24 million TEU had appeared likely to be the busiest month of 2026, as retailers brought in merchandise early ahead of potential tariff increases, according to the report.
Cargo volume is expected to ease to 2.11 million TEU in October, though that would still be up 1.7 per cent YoY. November was forecast at 2 million TEU, down 0.9 per cent YoY, and December at 2.03 million TEU, up 1.1 per cent from last year.
Those forecasts would take 2026 import volume to 25.7 million TEU, up 1 per cent from 25.4 million TEU last year. The first half of 2026 totalled 12.7 million TEU, up 1.1 per cent from the same period in 2025, while January 2027 was forecast at 2.09 million TEU, down 1 per cent YoY.
Ben Hackett, founder, Hackett Associates said, “Imports have remained buoyant over the past three months despite several hurdles,” citing tariff increases along with inflation and rising fuel prices related to the conflict in Iran.
“Retail sales remain strong and cargo is moving relatively smoothly, although there are reports of vessel delays and increased times required for cargo to move through the supply chain, ” he added.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (MS)
