China–US container volumes down 28% in June 2025

China-origin container volumes to the US remained significantly subdued in June 2025, totalling 639,300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)—flat month-on-month (MoM) but 28.3 per cent below June 2024 levels, according to The Global Shipping Report released by Descartes.

China’s share of total US imports dropped to 28.8 per cent, its lowest since 2021, reflecting the lingering effects of elevated tariffs, sourcing diversification, and the phased revocation of the de minimis exemption.

The marginal recovery in overall US imports in June (up 1.8 per cent from May to 2,217,675 TEUs) was not mirrored by China. Analysts point to uncertainty ahead of the August 10 expiry of the US–China tariff truce, which temporarily reduced tariffs from 145 per cent to 30 per cent. New tariffs on Vietnamese re-exports—often used to bypass direct China sourcing—have further constrained trade flows.

E-commerce brands have been hit particularly hard. The revoked de minimis rule, replaced with a 54 per cent duty as of mid-May, continues to erode margins and increase compliance costs.

Wider geopolitical tensions are amplifying trade risk. Shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains depressed—nearly 50 per cent below early 2024 levels—as carriers reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing costs and delays on Asia–US and Asia–Europe lanes. The Iran–Israel conflict and persistent Houthi attacks have stalled any return to Red Sea routes.

With China-origin imports historically concentrated through West Coast ports, the impact of reduced volumes has been partially offset by tariff-induced rerouting and a surge in trade from other Asian economies. Yet analysts said that unless there is clarity on tariff policy post-August, the slowdown in China trade may extend well into the second half of 2025.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)