U.S. container imports rose 8.2% year-over-year in June, according to supply chain technology provider Descartes Systems Group, as importers rushed goods into the country ahead of potential new tariffs and rising transportation costs linked to the war in Iran. U.S. seaports processed 2,400,627 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the month. The headline number looks like strength, but the first-half data tells a different story. For the first six months of 2026, imports were actually down 0.

Hong Kong’s once-thriving freight forwarding sector is experiencing significant disruptions, as tensions between the United States and China escalate into an intense trade war. This week alone, approximately 41 percent of scheduled container capacity from Hong Kong to the west coast of North America has been abruptly canceled, reflecting the profound challenges now facing one of Asia’s most critical logistics hubs. Historically, Hong Kong has acted as a pivotal intermediary point for re-exporting goods between China and the U.