The container flows through U.S. ports are set to conclude on a strong note, signaling robust improvement prospects for 2025. According to a recent report by Yahoo Finance, significant end-of-year gains are driven by shippers stockpiling imports to circumvent the potential disruptions from labor issues and impending tariffs in the new year, as suggested by the National Retail Federation.
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In November, American ports processed 2.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), as per data from the Global Port Tracker. This data set, which excludes the ports of New York and New Jersey, indicates a 3.2% decrease from October figures but marks a substantial 14.7% increase year-over-year. The NRF anticipates December volumes to rise to 2.24 million TEUs, reflecting a 19.2% y/y growth, which could drive the full-year total to 25.6 million TEUs—15.2% higher than 2023’s recorded volumes.
The potential crisis was averted as port employers and union longshoremen reached a consensus on automating container handling, thereby preventing an impending strike post the contract extension expiration on January 15. “The new contract brings certainty and avoids disruptions, and we hope to see it ratified as soon as possible,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold remarked in the release. Due to the agreement’s late finalization, retailers proactively imported spring merchandise to maintain well-stocked inventories amid anticipated disruptions.
The import surge additionally gains momentum from President-elect Trump’s tariff escalation plans, prompting retailers to navigate future consumer cost increments. The long-term ramifications on import levels, however, remain under observation.
Data projects a steady import trajectory into the next year, with January forecasted at 2.16 million TEUs, marking a 10% y/y rise. February might see a downturn by 4.5% to approximately 1.87 million TEUs, primarily due to production halts in Chinese factories for the Lunar New Year. March’s traffic could increase by 10.6% to 2.13 million TEUs; April is expected to rise 8% to 2.18 million TEUs; and May’s figures might reach 2.2 million TEUs, showing a 5.9% gain.