American seaports experienced a modest decline in shipping container activity during March, according to data released Thursday by supply chain technology firm Descartes Systems Group.
The nation’s ports processed 2,353,611 twenty-foot equivalent units during the month, representing a 1.1% decrease compared to the same period last year. These standardized containers serve as the industry benchmark for measuring cargo volume.
Despite the monthly decline, shipping activity for the first quarter of the year remains down 4.8% compared to 2025 levels. However, March’s container volumes still exceeded pre-pandemic figures from March 2019 by 32.3%, according to Descartes’ analysis.
The company noted that this sustained activity demonstrates consistent consumer demand, even as businesses navigate uncertainty surrounding potential tariff changes and ongoing conflict in Iran.
Container shipments arriving from China specifically totaled 711,652 units in March 2026, marking a 6.7% year-over-year reduction. Chinese imports represented 30.2% of all containers entering American ports last month.
Economists frequently monitor container import patterns as an indicator of overall economic health, with volumes typically increasing during periods of growth and declining when economic activity slows.
