US containerized imports are entering a sharper-than-usual year-end slump as retailers, cautious about consumer demand and tariff uncertainty, keep inventories lean after months of frontloading. Forecasts from the Global Port Tracker show double-digit drops in November and December volumes, with monthly imports expected to stay below 2 million TEUs through March. Weakening consumer sentiment, slower job growth, and rising living costs are curbing restocking, pushing 2026 import projections flat to down 2% year over year. Trans-Pacific inbound volumes, especially from China, have fallen steeply, driving spot rates to the West Coast below $1,400/FEU and undermining carrier attempts to sustain GRIs.
