Transwestern: U.S. Container Port Volumes Stabilize After 2025 Tariff Frontloading Surge

U.S. container port volumes largely stabilized in 2025 after a volatile first half driven by retailer inventory frontloading ahead of shifting tariff timelines, according to a market commentary published by Transwestern. Despite strong demand earlier in the year at several major gateways, cargo traffic cooled sharply in the third quarter, leaving only marginal year-over-year changes across most ports by year-end.

Frontloading Drives Record Monthly Volumes, Then Fades

According to Transwestern, retailers spent several months in early 2025 rebuilding inventories — in some cases overordering — to stay ahead of shifting tariff timelines and potential price increases. That dynamic helped drive record monthly volumes at several ports during the first half of the year. By the third quarter, however, container traffic slowed significantly as holiday goods had largely arrived ahead of schedule. Volumes dropped sharply in certain markets, erasing a five-point gain from the first half and leaving only a marginal increase by year-end.

For the first time in the post-pandemic period, no U.S. port posted a double-digit volume change year-over-year. Gains and losses were relatively balanced, with six ports reporting increases. Despite the mixed annual results, cargo traffic at eight of the 10 major ports exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 levels, and five of those posted double-digit gains compared with 2019.

Port Houston Leads Growth; Port of Virginia Posts Steepest Decline

Port Houston led all major U.S. shipping ports with a 3.9% increase in container traffic in 2025, surpassing four million TEUs for the first time. The port is undergoing major infrastructure improvements and has seen container volumes surge 43.9% compared with pre-pandemic 2019 levels, the highest growth rate among major U.S. ports tracked by Transwestern.

The Port of Virginia recorded the steepest year-over-year decline, with volumes falling 8.1%. Transwestern attributed the drop in large part to inflated 2024 figures, when Virginia was the principal beneficiary of diverted cargo following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Despite the decrease, Virginia's port still recorded double-digit growth compared with pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Other notable performers included the Port of Long Beach, which posted its third-highest annual cargo volume on record — up 2.4% from 2024 and nearly 30% above pre-pandemic levels. Long Beach has grown at an average annual rate of 4.7% over the past five years, the highest among major West Coast ports, according to Transwestern. The Port of Los Angeles exceeded 10 million TEUs for the third time ever, though overall volume showed minimal change compared with 2024. The Port of New York/New Jersey posted a 2.3% gain, recording its third-highest annual total on record.

The Port of Savannah, described by Transwestern as the fastest-growing major container gateway on the East Coast since 2019 with a 24% spike in cargo volume over that period, marked its second-busiest year on record with a 2.8% annual increase. A major expansion project is supporting Savannah's continued growth.

The combined South Florida ports of Port Miami and Port Everglades recorded their second-highest totals in 2025, including an all-time record for Port Everglades. The 3.4% increase in overall volume was the strongest among major East Coast ports, according to the report.

The Port of Charleston posted its third-best year in 2025, with cargo volumes increasing 2.7%, according to Transwestern.

The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma declined 5.5% in 2025, despite strong demand earlier in the year. Transwestern noted it is one of two ports that has experienced negative average annual growth over the past five years and shipping totals below 2019 levels. The Port of Oakland similarly posted flat volume, decreasing by a fraction of a point, and joined Seattle and Tacoma in posting negative average annual growth over the past five years.

East and Gulf Coasts Regain Share; West Coast Faces Tariff Headwinds

After ceding share over the previous two years, East and Gulf Coast ports regained a modest portion of total volume in 2025, with Southeast ports outperforming those in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Transwestern attributed this shift to continued population growth in the region and strengthening trade with the Caribbean and Latin America.

By contrast, tariff uncertainty tied to Asia weighed on West Coast gateways, where Long Beach was the lone port to post a volume increase among its peers.

2026 Outlook

The commentary, authored by Matt Dolly, Research Director for Transwestern's Industrial Group and Strategic Account Management program, noted that cargo flow at major U.S. shipping ports may remain volatile in the near term.

Declining volume totals are anticipated in the first half of 2026 as many retailers are oversupplied, according to Transwestern. On the positive side, the firm noted that shippers are operating with a clearer understanding of tariff policy, even as the ultimate impact of a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs remains uncertain. The broader reduction in policy ambiguity, Transwestern said, should allow importers to plan inventory flows with greater confidence, supporting more consistent cargo volumes as the year progresses. The firm expressed hope that port activity in 2026 will become more orderly, logging modest volume increases anchored by evolving supply-chain strategies rather than short-term trade policy reactions.