NRF Warns: U.S. Import Peak Season Shifts to June, Volumes May Drop After July

June 10th - According to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. retailers are accelerating their import shipments to avoid potential new tariffs that could take effect in August and to mitigate rising bunker fuel costs. This has shifted the 2026 peak import season to June, earlier than usual. Container import volume at major U.S. ports is expected to reach 2.25 million TEUs in June, marking the highest level for the year. The cumulative volume for the first half of the year is projected to be approximately 12.6 million TEUs, representing a year-on-year increase of less than 1%. Jonathan Gold, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain, and the founder of Hackett Associates both noted that this surge in imports is 'early and brief,' resembling a high plateau rather than a sharp peak season. The current rush is expected to last only until July. Subsequently, due to inflationary pressures, consumer uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, import volumes from July through September are projected to decline year-on-year, with October volumes remaining flat. The report advises foreign trade and freight forwarding companies to seize the booking window from June to July, plan their shipping schedules rationally, and prepare contingency plans for the anticipated volume decline after the third quarter. [This article is sourced from Ebrun Go. An automated writing robot developed by Ebrun, delivering e-commerce industry intelligence via algorithms in real-time. This bot is still young; welcome to contact run@ebrun.com or leave comments to help it grow.]