“Pressure makes diamonds, and I shine from it”…..

Port of Charleston

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The last week of August is upon us, and peak season isn’t done just yet. We’re seeing a short-term spike in imports thanks to frontloaded freight and tariff pressure, so if you need capacity—now’s the time to grab it. We’ve got trucks and space available at all major ports and rails, but it’s moving fast and booked on a first come, first serve basis. Want to stay ahead of the curve? Follow Port X Logistics on LinkedIn for real-time freight insights and updates. Prefer this newsletter straight to your inbox? Just email Marketing@portxlogistics.com and we’ll hook you up.

On August 19th, the U.S. Trade Administration implemented the second phase of the new reciprocal tariff framework. This followed the August 7th rollout, which focused on raw materials (like copper and aluminum). The August 19th wave shifted attention to consumer-facing finished goods — a move designed to target import-heavy sectors. As a result, importers across industries—from furniture and appliances to lighting and electronics—rushed to get ahead of the new cost pressures. The weeks leading up to the rollout saw a sharp increase in container volumes as shippers frontloaded inventory to beat the deadline. Now, with the second wave in effect, many are reassessing sourcing strategies, evaluating tariff exposure, and preparing for tighter margins in Q4. While the long-term impact on consumer prices remains to be seen, the short-term logistics pressure has already rippled through ports, warehouses, and inland networks nationwide. 

Frontloading Frenzy (Early August) 

• U.S. importers pulled forward 2–4 weeks’ worth of orders to arrive by August 18th  

• Spot container bookings rose sharply at ports like Savannah, LA/LGB, and NY/NJ 

• Surge in customs clearance requests, particularly for HTS codes under Chapters 84, 85, and 94 

• Vietnam’s Ministry of Trade issued a formal protest, citing disruption to long-term supply contracts. 

• Mexico’s manufacturing sector reported record August exports of home goods to the U.S. 

• EU exporters to the U.S. also flagged concern, especially for white goods and luxury lighting.
   

What to Expect This Week and Next (Late August) 

• Increased container arrivals: Many of those expedited shipments were timed to hit U.S. ports between August 15th – 25th, so we’re seeing (and will continue to see) a bump in vessel discharges and terminal activity through the end of this week and next. 

• Elevated volumes at key ports: 

• East Coast: NY/NJ, Savannah, and Charleston are reporting more TEU activity from Southeast Asia and China. 

• West Coast: LA/LGB are seeing steady arrivals from China and Vietnam, though not surging like July. 

• Gulf: Houston and New Orleans are also receiving increased volumes, especially for tariff-targeted goods like furniture, copper, and building materials. 

• Rail & drayage impact: Inland rail ramps (e.g., Chicago, Memphis, Dallas) are feeling the knock-on effects of port spikes. Expect increased demand for chassis and longer rail dwell times in the short term.
   

Bottom Line – The next 7–10 days should reflect the tail end of the tariff-driven import wave, with container volumes at elevated (though not record-breaking) levels. After this short spike, imports are forecast to cool considerably in September and October, especially for tariff-sensitive goods.

Q4 Outlook: Container Imports into the U.S. 
Projected Declines Across the Board 

• The National Retail Federation (NRF), citing the Global Port Tracker, projects substantial year-over-year drops in U.S. container imports throughout the final quarter: 

• September: down ~19.5% YoY 

• October: down ~18.9% YoY 

• November: down ~21.1% YoY (lowest monthly volume since April 2023) 

• December: down ~19.3% YoY
  Overall, 2025 is expected to close with approximately 24.1 million TEUs, a decline of about 5.6% from the 2024 total of 25.5 million TEUs  

Demand Cool-off After Early Peak – 

The steep declines reflect a combination of frontloading ahead of tariff changes in early 2025 and historically elevated late-2024 volumes due to port strike concerns – skewing Q4 comparisons and softening seasonal demand. 

Looking ahead, why a softer peak season could be good for your supply chain: While Q4 2025 won’t bring the traditional four-week import surge we’ve seen in past years, that’s not necessarily bad news. With much of the holiday inventory already landed early—thanks to the tariff-driven frontloading – what’s ahead is a more stable, more manageable freight environment. This “flattened peak” means fewer bottlenecks at ports, more reliable access to capacity, and greater flexibility in scheduling. For our customers, it’s an opportunity to move freight smarter, reduce avoidable costs, and take control of your final-mile timelines. Fewer surprises. More consistency. And better outcomes.  Peak season pressure? We’ve already weathered the storm. Now it’s about sharp moves, smart timing, and leveraging space in the lanes. The noise is fading. The opportunity? Still shining. 

Import TEUs are down 20.55% this week from last week – with the highest volumes coming into Los Angeles 18%, Long Beach 17.1% and NY/NJ 11.9%. As August draws to a close, weather-related disruptions are becoming a significant operational constraint across multiple legs of the supply chain. Hurricane Erin’s offshore presence continues to generate hazardous marine conditions along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast, impacting vessel rotation schedules due to high swell events, restricted pilot boardings, and berth availability fluctuations. Simultaneously, inland terminals—particularly Savannah and Charleston—are experiencing heat-induced slowdowns, with late-afternoon storm activity further compressing gate hours and drayage availability. On the intermodal front, New York and Newark rail hubs are reporting multi-day dwell increases linked to a combination of terminal congestion, chassis imbalances, and weather-triggered throughput delays. With forecasts indicating continued precipitation and elevated humidity, shippers should anticipate operational drag on both port and inland rail corridors. Proactive scheduling, chassis pre-positioning, and flexible routing strategies are critical to mitigating further service degradation.