U.S. container imports fell sharply in May – down 9.7% from April and 7.2% compared to the same month last year, according to the latest Descartes Global Shipping Report. Imports from China saw a particularly steep drop, falling 20.8% month-over-month (637,001 TEUs) and 28.5% year-over-year.

Port activity also shifted notably. East and Gulf Coast ports gained market share as volumes declined at major West Coast gateways. The Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach experienced significant decreases, down 18.4% and 22.4%, respectively. The Port of Tacoma saw the sharpest decline at 25.6%, while Port Houston dropped 8.6%. In contrast, some East Coast ports saw modest gains – Charleston increased by 6% and Baltimore rose by 2.6%.

On the global front, U.S. imports from Hong Kong and Germany fell 10.3% and 5.6%, respectively. However, not all regions saw declines. Imports from Vietnam surged 18.1%, India rose 10.4%, and Taiwan increased by 4.4%, signaling growth in trade with Southeast and South Asia.