US container imports reached 2.60 million TEUs in August 2026 , marking the third-highest monthly volume on record, according to the latest Global Shipping Report from Descartes. Imports increased 3.8% from July and were 3.3% higher than August 2025. The only stronger months on record were May 2022 and July 2025. August imports reach 2.6 million TEUs US ports handled 2,603,709 TEUs of containerised imports during August. The total remained slightly below the record 2,622,465 TEUs recorded in May 2022 and the 2,621,910 TEUs handled in July 2025. August volumes were also 21.5% above August 2019 , before the pandemic. Despite the strong month, imports during the first eight months of 2026 remained 0.4% below the same period last year . China volumes rise 1.3% Imports from China reached 884,318 TEUs , increasing 1.3% from July and 1.7% year over year. China accounted for 34% of total US container imports , down from 34.8% in July as shipments from other sourcing markets grew faster. Overall imports from the top 10 countries of origin increased 3.5% month over month and 2.3% year over year. Vietnam recorded the largest absolute monthly increase among the top 10 origins, adding 14,545 TEUs , or 5.2%. Indonesia posted the strongest percentage increase at 19.5% , while Thailand increased 10.4%. India was the only top-10 origin to decline, falling 0.8%. Port delays increase Despite strong import volumes, Descartes reported that transit delays increased across all major US gateways in August . “At 2.6M TEUs, August’s elevated volumes demonstrate that U.S. import demand remains strong,” said Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes. Wood added that rising port delays, Panama Canal capacity constraints, tariff exposure and disruption in the Middle East and Red Sea are adding complexity to global supply chains. The post US container imports hit third-highest monthly level on record appeared first on Container News .