What Does the Descartes Shipping Report Reveal About Trade?

Global shipping has undergone significant changes in the last few years, with supply chains facing constant strain.

Through rerouting across the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez Canal, to the increase of online ordering with the rise of digitalisation, every shift has changed established shipping plans.

Descartes has released its February Global Shipping Report, examining import demand, sourcing patterns and geopolitical pressures.

Shipping amid volatility

The beginning of 2026 has seen shipping conditions remain affected by external forces such as policy and geopolitical developments, rather than by operational constraints. As the European Union took steps to suspend the approval of a proposed US-EU trade agreement, transatlantic trade uncertainty began to form. Trade tensions have also risen due to the US targeting of countries linked to Cuban oil trade and ongoing tariff exposure.

Key Middle East shipping lanes have remained a main focus in logistics and maritime risk concerns, with some companies making a tentative return to the Red Sea and others stepping away from their plans to do so. These uncertainties demonstrate the ongoing volatility surrounding maritime trade as 2026 begins, with planning difficulties as a result. 

In January 2026, US containerised imports totaled 2,318,722 20ft-equivalent units (TEUs), up 4.1% from December, though 6.8% lower than January 2025. Descartes notes this points to a more normalised trade environment shaped by steady demand, with the figures sitting in the average across five years.

Descartes suggests the January 2025 volumes were higher due to frontloading, whereas importers in 2026 have become conditioned to ongoing trade uncertainty, allowing them to work alongside it rather than react to it. 

“Entering 2026, trade policy and geopolitical risk continue to create uncertainty for global supply chains,” says Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes.

“While these factors contribute to a cautious outlook for global trade, January 2026 volumes were slightly above the six-year average for the month, appearing to reflect a more normalised trade environment as US importers become more conditioned to persistent volatility.”

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Port volumes rise

Container volumes across the top 10 US ports saw a 4.9% month-over-month gain, with an increase in 92,150 TEUs in January 2026. Gains were concentrated at several key gateways, with Houston recording the largest increase.

• Port Angeles, CA - 4,162 TEU changes, with a 1% decline
• New York/Newark Area - 24,969 TEUs change, +8.3%
• Long Beach, CA - 8,026 TEU change, with 2% increase
• Savannah, GA - 5,580 TEU change, 2.5% increase
• Houston, TX - 39,338 TEUs, 28.5% increase
• Norfolk, VA - 4,434 TEU change, with 3.7% increase
• Charleston, SC - 3,070 TEU change, noting a 3.2% decrease
• Oakland, CA - 11,264 TEU, a 15.2% increase
• Tacoma, WA - 5,703 TEU, a 10.8% increase
• Philadelphia, PA - 68 TEU increase, at 0.1%

Changing sourcing trends

January 2026 saw 7% month-over-month increase in US containerised imports from the top 10 countries of origin (CoO), with a combined gain of 109,036 TEUs. 

Though China-origin imports were down 22.7% YoY, there has been a 9.3% MoM rebound, suggesting early signs of stabilisation following late 2025 uncertainties and tensions. Imports from India grew MoM by 22%, represented by an increase of 18,643 TEUs. 

Month-on-month declines were limited to Italy (a 16.4% decline, or 9,495 TEUs) and South Korea (a 1.7% decline, or 1,535 TEUs). Its import volumes reflect strength across most of its major sourcing countries, with particular momentum from China and India.

The YoY volumes have declined overall, with a 9% decline from the top 10 countries. Additional losses came from Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India and Hong Kong. However, imports from several Southeast Asian origins saw a YoY growth, particularly in Thailand (36.5%), Vietnam (17.8%) and Indonesia (18%). According to Descartes, this likely demonstrates the increasing divergence in sourcing, with many businesses looking to diversify their operations.

Ongoing disrupters

Escalating trade tensions are proving disruptive for supply chains and port operations. The suspension of the US-EU trade agreement in January adds policy uncertainty to international trade flows, making it more difficult. On the other hand, the US and India have announced a new deal to cut tariffs, which could reshape sourcing and export strategies.

With maritime trade looking at the Red Sea and Suez Canal once more, trade routes could be reshaped for more efficiency, speed and sustainability. This shift could shorten voyage distances and cut operational costs, but changes could create immediate risk and volatility.

Businesses need to examine their partnerships and stay connected to global legislation in order to reduce risk of disruption. Though January reflected a rebound from the month prior, ongoing uncertainty has logistics leaders working to build supply chain resilience.