As container bookings continue to fluctuate amid shifting trade dynamics and new tariff actions, understanding where volumes are headed has never been more critical. This update breaks down planned TEU arrivals into the United States based on the latest booking data, focusing on global shipments to the U.S., China to U.S. flows, and key ports including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle/Tacoma. Because many shipments from Asia to the U.S. take between three to five weeks to arrive, the effects of recent booking slowdowns are already in motion. What is on the water today will shape port operations in the weeks ahead, meaning volume disruptions are not just possible but imminent. To support this analysis, we have included interactive charts comparing 2024 and 2025 TEU arrival trends, with detailed week over week and year over year percentage changes to help visualize how quickly conditions are shifting.

Current Week Snapshot:

We are currently in Week 20 of 2025 (May 12-18), marking a critical inflection point. With forward bookings projected through Week 24, many of these containers are already in transit and will begin arriving at U.S. ports over the next several weeks. The data below provides a window into what’s inbound, and what volume trends stakeholders should be preparing for as we head toward June.

Global Arrivals to U.S. 

This table compares 2024 and 2025 global TEU arrivals to the U.S. by week, showing TEU volumes alongside week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes. The table is interactive - sort any column to compare trends by time period or change percentage.

This chart visualizes weekly global TEU arrivals to the U.S. from 2022 through 2025. Hover over each data point to view the corresponding TEU volume for that week and year, offering an intuitive view of historical and projected trends.

Key Insights: 

1. Early-Year Front-Loading Likely in Play
   Volumes in early 2025 consistently outpaced 2024 levels, especially from Weeks 1 through 7. Week 2 reached 343.8K TEUs, an 18.1% YoY increase, pointing to modest front-loading behavior amid tariff concerns and early-year demand..
2. Week 13 Sees Biggest Weekly Spike
   Week 13 (late March) recorded the sharpest WoW gain at +26.5%, and a strong YoY gain of +22.5%, possibly reflecting an effort to accelerate shipments before anticipated slowdowns.
3. Arrivals Begin Declining After Mid-April
   Starting Week 18, arrivals show consistent weekly declines. Week 19 dropped 4.2% WoW, and while Week 20 saw a slight stabilization (–1.7% WoW), volumes remain significantly lower than recent peaks.
4. Volume Shock Ahead for U.S. Ports
   With most Asia-to-U.S. transit times ranging between three to five weeks, the drop-off in bookings is expected to materially impact arrivals by late May and into June. U.S. ports should expect lighter arrivals from late May into June, bringing reduced throughput, softer drayage demand, and thinner container availability across gateways.

China to U.S. Arrivals

This table compares 2024 and 2025 planned TEU arrivals from China to the U.S. by week, showing TEU volumes alongside week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes. The table is interactive - sort any column to compare trends by time period or change percentage.

This chart visualizes weekly TEU arrivals from China to the U.S. from 2022 through 2025. Hover over each data point to view the corresponding TEU volume for that week and year, providing an intuitive view of historical and projected trends.

Key Insights:

1. Strong Start Suggests Proactive Ordering
   The year opened with consistent YoY growth. Week 1 arrivals hit 146,769 TEUs, up 10.6% YoY, and Week 2 remained solid at 135,639 TEUs (+8.3% YoY). However, these volumes trail 2024’s unusually high Q1 totals, suggesting a more measured pace of early-year imports despite tariff pressure.
2. Volatility Sets In By Late Q1
   Week 6 saw a notable spike to 157,578 TEUs (+12.9% WoW, +23.6% YoY), the highest volume week of 2025. This may reflect final pre-tariff inventory pushes. But the rebound was short-lived: Weeks 7–10 each saw consecutive weekly drops, with Week 10 falling to just 99,978 TEUs, down 14.0% WoW and –2.2% YoY.
3. Mid-April Spike in Week 13 Didn’t Hold
   Week 13 volumes jumped to 120,546 TEUs, driven by a massive +32.3% WoW gain and a +40.5% YoY surge, the strongest YoY growth of the quarter. However, that spike was isolated. Arrivals declined in the weeks following, dropping to 117,028 TEUs by Week 19.
4. U.S. Ports Face Steep Summer Slowdown
   Ports on both coasts should expect reduced throughput, tighter container supply, and lower chassis utilization throughout June. This slowdown could strain downstream inventory pipelines, particularly for retailers counting on replenishment ahead of peak season.

While the overall decline in China-to-U.S. bookings signals broad import softness, the effects are playing out differently across major U.S. ports. Each port is experiencing its own mix of volatility, recovery, and downturn depending on routing preferences, congestion shifts, and supply chain strategies. Below, we break down the planned arrivals into key West Coast ports, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Seattle/Tacoma to better understand how these localized impacts are unfolding.

China to Port of Los Angeles Arrivals

This table compares 2024 and 2025 planned TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Los Angeles by week, showing TEU volumes alongside week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes. The table is interactive - sort any column to compare trends by time period or change percentage.

This chart visualizes weekly TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Los Angeles from 2022 through 2025. Hover over each data point to view the corresponding TEU volume for that week and year, providing an intuitive view of historical and projected trends.

Key Insights:

The Port of Los Angeles saw strong inbound volumes early in 2025, with Week 1 and 2 arrivals up 36.7% and 47.7% year over year as importers front loaded cargo and shifted back to West Coast gateways.

Momentum became unpredictable by March. After a 51% week over week spike in Week 6, arrivals swung sharply, falling nearly 46% by Week 9. Despite occasional rebounds like a 35.7% jump in Week 20 to 34,891 TEUs, arrivals remained inconsistent, reflecting shifting booking patterns and importer caution.

China to Port of Long Beach Arrivals

This table compares 2024 and 2025 planned TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Long Beach by week, showing TEU volumes alongside week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes. The table is interactive - sort any column to compare trends by time period or change percentage.

This chart visualizes weekly TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Los Angeles from 2022 through 2025. Hover over each data point to view the corresponding TEU volume for that week and year, providing an intuitive view of historical and projected trends.

Key Insights: 

The Port of Los Angeles saw strong inbound volumes early in 2025, with Week 1 and 2 arrivals up 36.7% and 47.7% year over year as importers front loaded cargo and shifted back to West Coast gateways.

Momentum became unpredictable by March. After a 51% week over week spike in Week 6, arrivals swung sharply, falling nearly 46% by Week 9. Despite occasional rebounds like a 35.7% jump in Week 20 to 34,891 TEUs, arrivals remained inconsistent, reflecting shifting booking patterns and importer caution.

China to Port of Oakland Arrivals

This table compares 2024 and 2025 planned TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Seattle by week, showing TEU volumes alongside week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes. The table is interactive - sort any column to compare trends by time period or change percentage.

This chart visualizes weekly TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Seattle from 2022 through 2025. Hover over each data point to view the corresponding TEU volume for that week and year, providing an intuitive view of historical and projected trends.

Key Insights: 

The Port of Oakland began 2025 with steady but modest volumes. Week 1 arrivals edged up 3% year over year to 5,069 TEUs but volumes softened in February. By Week 5 arrivals dropped to 4,092 TEUs down 9% week over week and 34% year over year as importers prioritized other gateways.

Some rebounds followed. Week 12 climbed 10.3% week over week to 4,553 TEUs and Week 20 jumped 24.9% to 5,651 TEUs marking the strongest weekly gain of the year so far. Still, overall activity remained volatile as shippers adjusted sourcing and routing strategies.

China to Port of Seattle + Tacoma Arrivals

This table compares 2024 and 2025 planned TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Seattle by week, showing TEU volumes alongside week-over-week and year-over-year percentage changes. The table is interactive - sort any column to compare trends by time period or change percentage.

This chart visualizes weekly TEU arrivals from China to the Port of Seattle from 2022 through 2025. Hover over each data point to view the corresponding TEU volume for that week and year, providing an intuitive view of historical and projected trends.

Key Insights: 

Container arrivals at Seattle and Tacoma showed wild swings early in 2025. Week 1 arrivals inched up 2.5% year over year to 5,473 TEUs but gains quickly gave way to volatility. Week 3 fell 10.5% week over week before rebounding 61.2% in Week 7 to 7,312 TEUs marking the highest weekly total so far this year.

By spring, arrivals softened again. Week 12 dropped 52.2% week over week to 2,740 TEUs while Week 20 landed at just 1,565 TEUs down 68.3% from the prior week and 58.8% lower year over year signaling a steep pullback in inbound volumes as summer approaches.

As inbound volumes continue to soften, stakeholders across the supply chain, from terminal operators to inland logistics providers, will need to recalibrate operations in anticipation of lower inbound flows across West Coast ports.

While this analysis focuses on global and China-to-U.S. arrivals into Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle/Tacoma, an upcoming blog will explore arrival patterns at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to provide a complete picture of U.S. import arrival dynamics. Subscribe to stay tuned for the next update as we continue to track the effects of shifting trade flows.

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1. Booking trends by product type, HS code, or commodity
2. Changes by country or port
3. Shipment behavior by consignee, shipper, and logistics provider

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