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Vizion accesses millions of ocean container freight bookings daily via their Tradeview product built in collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet's Shipping Insights dataset.
Booking data offers an early look into how global shippers are reacting to shifting tariff changes. From a dramatic Q1 surge to an equally sharp cooldown in early April, these trends speak volumes about how supply chains are anticipating and adapting to policy-driven disruption.
US Import Bookings YoY % Change: 5 Year View
The chart below illustrates year-over-year changes in U.S. import bookings, highlighting key shifts over the past five years. After a surge during the pandemic that peaked in 2021, booking volumes declined sharply through 2022. A steady recovery began in 2023 and gained momentum through 2024, leading to a strong start in early 2025.
But that momentum didn’t last. March 2025 bookings fell 20% from January peaks, even though volumes were still 30% higher year-over-year compared to 2024. The most likely explanation? Shippers moved quickly to front-load shipments ahead of anticipated tariff increases.
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A Sudden April Crash in Bookings
As tariff-related uncertainty intensified, booking volumes collapsed in real time. Comparing the week of March 24–31, 2025 to the following week, April 1–8, 2025, we saw sharp declines:
- Global TEUs Booked: ↓ 49%
- Overall U.S. Imports: ↓ 64%
- Overall U.S. Exports: ↓ 30%
- U.S. Imports from China: ↓ 64%
- U.S. Exports to China: ↓ 36%
This dramatic drop aligned with two key developments: the April 4th U.S. tariff announcement, followed by China’s retaliatory measures announced on April 5th. The result? A widespread booking freeze, as shippers paused mid-shipment cycle to reassess costs, timelines, and broader trade strategy.
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Week-over-Week Drop in US Imports by Product Type
Zooming in on product-level trends between March 31-April 6, 2025, and the prior week (March 24-30) reveals sharp booking declines across several categories:
- Apparel & Accessories: ↓ 59%
- Wool, Fabrics, and Textiles: ↓ 57%
- Art, Antiques, Umbrellas, Feathers: ↓ 50%+
These are largely discretionary or seasonal categories, often the first to react to rising costs, demand shifts, or trade policy changes. Many of these goods also fall under one of many tariff adjustments, making them more sensitive to uncertainty and pricing volatility in the short term.
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Week-over-Week Drop in US Imports from China by Product Type
Imports from China showed similar pain, particularly in foundational manufacturing inputs:
- Plastics: ↓ 45.4%
- Copper: ↓ 31.1%
- Wood Products: ↓ 24.0%
These categories are deeply tied to industrial and manufacturing supply chains and now face significant tariff pressure. On April 10th, the White House clarified that tariffs on Chinese goods now total 145%, combining the previously announced 125% rate with an additional 20% import tax tied to other enforcements. This sharp increase in effective duty rates has already created significant hesitation in forward bookings from China, especially in high-volume, high-cost raw material categories.
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What the Data Tells Us
The message is clear: Shippers moved early to get ahead of tariffs, and then hit the brakes as conditions changed. This behavior, visible in booking data weeks before it shows up at the port, shows just how critical forward-looking logistics intelligence has become.
With tariffs from other trade partners currently on a 90-day pause, shippers are navigating a highly uncertain and fast-changing trade environment. The rest of 2025 is likely to bring continued volatility marked by demand swings, accelerated ordering patterns, and a re-evaluation of sourcing strategies the global response to these trade actions continues to unfold.
Want to See It in Real Time?
Vizion’s TradeView platform allows you to monitor real-time changes in booking behavior across:
- Specific product categories (HS code)
- Origin/destination ports
- Consignees, shippers, and cargo value
- and more!
Schedule time with us to explore current trends in your industry.
About Vizion
Vizion delivers leading global trade intelligence solutions to all stakeholders in logistics, supply chain, and finance. Its ION Platform monitors $7.5tn in goods daily via 240+ data sources covering 60% of container shipments from origin.
About Dun & Bradstreet
D&B Shipping Insights provides investment, insurance, compliance, and procurement professionals with a comprehensive source of advanced shipping data and traceability on the movement and sale of goods.
