If you're in the business of moving goods across the Pacific, you've probably felt the pressure building over the past few months. Well, here's the number that explains why: 2.47 million TEUs.
That's the volume of container imports the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates are forecasting for U.S. ports this July. If that number holds, it won't just be a busy month-it'll be a new all-time record, topping the previous high of 2.4 million TEUs set back in May 2022, when the economy was clawing its way out of the pandemic.
So what's driving this unprecedented surge? And more importantly, what does it mean for your supply chain?
The Tariff Clock Is Ticking
The short answer is frontloading-pure and simple.
Retailers are racing against a rapidly approaching deadline. The temporary 10% Section 122 global tariffs, which have been in place since February, are set to expire on July 24. But here's the catch: the Trump administration is widely expected to roll out a new round of tariffs-potentially higher ones-as early as August, this time targeting forced labor practices.
NRF Vice President Jonathan Gold put it this way: "This year's early peak season is expected to continue through July as retailers and other importers prepare for potentially higher tariffs beginning in August and other trade uncertainties". He added that the back-to-school season is already in full swing, and winter holidays aren't far behind-so retailers are scrambling to get products into the U.S. before new tariffs drive prices even higher.
The numbers tell the story. May already saw 2.24 million TEUs handled, up 14.9% year-over-year. June is projected at 2.33 million TEUs, an eye-popping 18.7% increase from last year. Combined, the first half of 2026 is expected to hit 12.77 million TEUs, up 2% from the same period in 2025.
But here's the warning: after July, the faucet is expected to turn off. August imports are forecast to drop to 2.22 million TEUs, with September and October both coming in at 1.99 million. The peak season that used to center around October has shifted earlier-and this July could be the peak of the peak.
What This Means for Shippers
For anyone moving freight right now, this record surge translates into one thing: chaos.
Ports are going to be jammed. Vessel space is going to be tight. And if you're an importer who didn't plan ahead, you could find your containers sitting in a yard somewhere while the clock ticks past July 24.
Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, summed it up: "Import volumes have risen sharply, with strong growth likely continuing into July. Much of this increase reflects frontloading ahead of expected tariff increases".
The challenge is that when everyone's frontloading at the same time, the system gets overwhelmed. Carriers are raising rates-they hiked shipping costs as of July 1, citing fuel prices and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. And with nearly every retailer trying to squeeze their cargo onto the same vessels, space is becoming a precious commodity.
How a Smart Forwarder Makes the Difference
This is exactly the kind of market where having the right logistics partner isn't a luxury-it's a necessity.
At Xiamen AE Global, we've been navigating these kinds of storms since 2018. We're a government-licensed company with IATA, FIATA, FMC, and NVOCC approvals-which means we don't just talk about being a global forwarder; we've got the credentials and the network to back it up. With over 100 overseas agents worldwide, we handle airfreight, ocean freight, and everything in between.
But in a market like this, credentials alone aren't enough. Here's what really sets us apart:
1. Strong Carrier Relationships = Priority Space
When every shipper is fighting for the same vessel space, relationships matter. We've built long-term partnerships with major ocean freight carriers, which gives us priority access to capacity-even when the market is squeezed. That means your containers are more likely to get on board, while others get rolled.
2. Real-Time Visibility, Not Guesswork
We've invested heavily in technology that gives our clients end-to-end visibility into their shipments. When a port starts backing up or a vessel gets delayed, you're not left wondering what happened. You know. And more importantly, we're already working on alternatives-whether that means rerouting, shifting to a different carrier, or adjusting your timeline.
3. Local Knowledge, Global Reach
Based in Xiamen-one of Asia's busiest and most strategic port cities-we combine the global reach of an IATA and FIATA-approved forwarder with the 4. on-the-ground expertise of a team that's been shipping all kinds of goods for over a decade. We know the local terminals, the carriers, and the shortcuts that keep cargo moving.
In fact, we've moved more than 12,000 TEUs in a single year, with a 98.6% on-time delivery rate for our SME clients. That's not luck-that's execution, even when the market is working against us.
The Bottom Line
July 2026 is shaping up to be a record-breaker for U.S. container imports. But records don't just mean celebration-they mean congestion, higher rates, and a lot of stressed-out supply chain managers.
The good news? You don't have to navigate this alone.
At Xiamen AE Global, we don't just move boxes-we turn complex cross-border logistics into smooth, predictable supply chains. Whether you're shipping full container loads (FCL) or less-than-container loads (LCL) across the Pacific, we've got the relationships, the technology, and the experience to get your cargo where it needs to go-before the tariffs hit and without the headaches.
Because in a month when 2.47 million TEUs are about to flood U.S. ports, having a partner who knows how to cut through the chaos isn't just helpful. It's essential.
Ready to beat the tariff deadline? Contact Xiamen AE Global today for a personalized shipping solution that keeps your cargo moving-no matter how records are broken.
