(The port of Los Angeles handles 40% of US containerised imports. 50% of its traffic is from China. That is why i use it as a proxy for US container traffic.)
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://x.com/drewryshipping/status/1930623278806147506?s%3D58%26t%3Dp2PyZE3vMYQKIJc8uZeRYA&source=gmail&ust=1749532567130000&usg=AOvVaw0A7w5Fu08yg1Z8CsH9VRXN" style="letter-spacing: normal;">
In sum, this looks like a return to normal after the damage caused by President Trump's initial tariff announcements. But it is not a boom to new levels.
At long last in week 25 (June 15 to 25) and week 26 (June 22 to 28) there is evidence of something of a surge in imported container volumes on a YoY basis. Week 25 shows arrivals up 31.61% YoY and week 26 up 12.78% YoY. This takes the average rate of container arrivals back to a weekly average of 101,000 TEU for the two weeks to June 28, 2025. Looking back over 2024 average monthly arrival rates of 116,000 TEU makes 2025 look a bit paltry - even factoring in the anticipated recovery.
There are two other data points that have also turned up:
The Shanghai Shipping Exchange Containerised Freight Index showed a 6.6% increase in shipments to the US for the week ending June 6; and
The Drewry World Container Cost Index jumped 41% last week with the China- US and China - Europe driving the shift.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In sum, this looks like a return to normal after the damage caused by President Trump's initial tariff announcements. But it is not a boom to new levels.