Washington — Import quantity at main U.S. container ports is just not being considerably affected by the battle in Iran however ocean carriers are seeing a associated improve in gas prices that might finally have an effect on retailers and consumers, in response to the International Port Tracker report launched by the Nationwide Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
“Simply because retailers don’t import a variety of merchandise from the Center East doesn’t imply the U.S. provide chain isn’t affected by the turmoil there,” says NRF Vice President for Provide Chain and Customs Coverage Jonathan Gold. “The availability chain is international and disruptions wherever alongside it may possibly have ripple results whether or not it’s rerouting of vessels, tools out of place, increased gas prices for shippers or rising gasoline costs that depart much less cash in shoppers’ pockets. Retailers are monitoring the state of affairs each day and dealing with their transportation companions to reduce any affect. Within the meantime, retailers proceed to face rising tariffs and continued commerce coverage uncertainty that put downward stress on imports and upward stress on costs.”
President Donald Trump final month introduced a brief 10 % international tariff beneath the Commerce Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court docket dominated that the usage of tariffs beneath the Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act was unlawful. Final week, he adjusted Part 232 tariffs that have been imposed final yr on imported metal, aluminum, and copper and introduced new Part 232 tariffs on pharmaceutical merchandise and components..
Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett says quantity at U.S. container imports has been slowed by tariffs however is just not being considerably affected by the state of affairs in Iran as a result of little U.S. container cargo comes from the area. Nonetheless, the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz is driving up the value of gas for container ships worldwide on the identical time shoppers are paying extra for gasoline, he says. As well as, ports in Asia rely on gas from the Persian Gulf and will see shortages if the battle is just not resolved quickly. It’s too quickly to evaluate the affect of current ceasefire bulletins, he says.
“The US is much less impacted operationally as there isn’t any scarcity of gas at U.S. ports, however the value of gas right here relies on worldwide pricing,” Hackett says. “Greater gas prices drive up the value of delivery a container for both import or export and finally have an inflationary affect on shoppers and different finish customers.”
U.S. ports lined by International Port Tracker dealt with 1.95 million Twenty-Foot Equal Models — one 20-foot container or its equal — in February, though the Port of New York/New Jersey has not but reported its knowledge. That was down 7.5 % from January and down 4.2 % yr over yr. February is historically the slowest month of the yr due to Lunar New Yr manufacturing facility shutdowns in Asia.
Ports haven’t reported March numbers, however International Port Tracker projected the month at 1.97 million TEU, down 8.3 % yr over yr. April is forecast at 2.08 million TEU, down 5.6 yr over yr; Could at 2.09 million TEU, up 7.3 %; June at 2.1 million TEU, up 6.9 %; July at 2.2 million TEU, down 8 %, and August at 2.18 million TEU, down 6 %.
These numbers would convey the primary half of 2026 to 12.3 million TEU, down 1.8 % from 12.53 million TEU throughout the identical interval in 2025. The year-over-year will increase in Could and June are largely due to the sharp drop-off in imports throughout these months final yr after “Liberation Day” tariffs have been introduced in April 2025.
Imports totaled 25.4 million TEU in 2025, down 0.3 % from 25.5 million TEU in 2024.
