Global leading supply chain technology support company Descartes announced on Tuesday (July 8) that since May, the quantity of containers from China has significantly declined due to the high tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese goods, with a further drop by 28.3% in June compared to the previous month.
In its Global Shipping Report for July, Descartes Systems Group provided insights for logistics and supply chain professionals. The report revealed that in June 2025, U.S. container import volume showed a slight increase of 1.8% compared to the previous month’s significant drop of 9.7%. While the import volume from China remained relatively stable in June compared to May (0.4%), it witnessed a sharp decline of 28.3% compared to June 2024. The market share of major U.S. West Coast ports surged ahead of East Coast and Gulf Coast ports by a margin of 6.7% in June, reflecting significant improvements in port transportation delays, particularly noticeable at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
The report indicated that U.S. container imports globally decreased by 3.5% in June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, totaling 2.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). This rebound signifies a stabilization in U.S. import activities after a sharp contraction in May, suggesting that U.S. importers are adjusting their supply chains amidst ongoing trade turbulence. Import values for the first half of the year grew by 3.8% year-on-year, although at a slower pace compared to the beginning of the year.
Analyzing data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Descartes reported that China’s total container imports to the U.S. in the previous month amounted to 639,000 TEU. Additionally, in June, China’s share of total container imports into the U.S. dropped to 28.8%, marking a four-year low and a significant decrease from its peak of 41.5% in February 2022. Imports of popular Chinese goods like furniture, toys, textiles, and footwear saw a substantial decline last month.
Among other major importing countries, some Southeast Asian nations experienced strong growth in June compared to May, with Vietnam leading at 7.7%, followed by Indonesia (17.3%), Thailand (8.6%), and Italy (9.0%), showcasing a trend of diversification in procurement strategies.
“Although U.S. container imports saw a slight rebound in June, the effects of shifting U.S. policies towards China have been evident for the second consecutive month,” stated Jackson Wood, Industry Strategy Director at Descartes, in the report. “As U.S. importers continue to assess and adjust their supply chains, the upcoming key trade deadlines – the expiration of the full tariff suspension period on July 9 and the August 10 end of the U.S.-China trade truce agreement – may further pressure businesses, compelling them to enhance the resilience of their supply chains within a rapidly changing trade environment.”
However, on Monday (July 7), former President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline for the U.S. global reciprocal tariffs exemption from July 9 to August 1.
On the same day, President Trump wrote to several countries notifying them of the imposition of new tariffs starting from August 1. According to a copy of the letter posted by Trump on the social media platform “Truth Social,” the U.S. will levy new tariffs on several countries as follows: Tunisia (25%), Serbia (35%), Cambodia (36%), Bangladesh (35%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (30%), Indonesia (32%), Myanmar (40%), Laos (40%), Thailand (36%), Malaysia (25%), Kazakhstan (25%), South Africa (30%), Japan (25%), and South Korea (25%).
In the letter, Trump expressed concerns about the significant trade deficits between the U.S. and its trading partners, highlighting that the U.S. has been importing more goods from foreign countries than what American companies export to those nations.
Furthermore, the letter mentioned that higher tariff rates will be imposed by the U.S. if goods are rerouted to avoid increased tariffs.