State of U.S. Imports: Q3 2024
U.S. ocean import activity from July 2024 through September 2024, from U.S. Customs bill of lading records.
Sourced from U.S. Customs bill of lading data · Updated monthly · Data through May 2026
Key findings
- U.S. ocean imports totaled 3,482,787 shipments in Q3 2024, up 7.8% versus Q2 2024 and up 31.1% year-over-year.
- The highest-volume import category was Storage heating radiators (HS 851621), with 92,280 shipments (+17.7% quarter-over-quarter).
- The fastest-growing high-volume category was With uppers of textile materials (HS 640520), up 245.1% from the prior quarter to 16,066 shipments.
- The steepest decline among high-volume categories was Ceramic sinks, washbasins, washbasin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet bowls, flush… (HS 691010), down 45.8% quarter-over-quarter.
- CHINA was the largest origin country with 2,167,376 shipments — 62.2% of all U.S. ocean imports.
- The busiest U.S. port of entry was LONG BEACH, CA, receiving 1,045,064 shipments.
- The largest importer by shipment count was IKEA SUPPLY AG, with 31,206 shipments.
Shipments
3,482,787
Containers
4,390,088
Quarter over quarter
+7.8%
vs Q2 2024
Year over year
+31.1%
vs Q3 2023
Monthly shipment volume
1,129,458July 2024
1,155,196August 2024
1,198,133September 2024
Top import categories
| Product (HS code) | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| Storage heating radiators851621 | 92,280 | +17.7% |
| Box files, letter trays, storage boxes and similar articles, of a kind used in offices, shops or the like481960 | 63,666 | +12.7% |
| Lavatory seats and covers392220 | 57,277 | +23.7% |
| Teleferics, chair lifts, ski draglines842860 | 33,219 | -19.6% |
| Hat-racks, hat pegs, brackets and similar fixtures, and parts thereof830250 | 27,813 | +47.6% |
| Trailers and semi-trailers, other vehicles871680 | 25,561 | +26.5% |
| Waste, parings and scrap, of other plastics391590 | 23,685 | -16.3% |
| HS 441033441033 | 22,419 | +183.0% |
| Waste and scrap of stainless steel720421 | 21,614 | +56.6% |
| Footwear with outer soles of rubber or plastics, sports footwear640411 | 20,295 | +118.2% |
Fastest growing
| Product (HS code) | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| With uppers of textile materials640520 | 16,066 | +245.1% |
| Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, waistcoats (vests) and similar articles, knitted or crocheted of wool611011 | 10,842 | +216.1% |
| HS 441033441033 | 22,419 | +183.0% |
| Other glassware of lead crystal701391 | 12,141 | +181.6% |
| Armored or reinforced safes, strong-boxes and doors and safe deposit lockers for strong-rooms, cash or deed boxes and the like, and parts thereof, of base metal830300 | 7,572 | +177.4% |
Steepest declines
| Product (HS code) | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic sinks, washbasins, washbasin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet bowls, flush tanks, urinals and similar sanitary fixtures of porcelain or china691010 | 6,596 | -45.8% |
| Electronic cigarettes and similar personal electric vaporizing devices854340 | 5,481 | -43.2% |
| HS 950390950390 | 5,568 | -37.2% |
| Bed linen, knitted or crocheted630210 | 5,047 | -32.0% |
| Other continuous-action elevators and conveyors, for goods or materials, other, bucket type842832 | 4,390 | -31.1% |
Among categories with at least 1,000 shipments this quarter and 500 the prior quarter, across the 100 highest-volume HS codes.
Top origin countries
| Country | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| CHINA | 2,167,376 | +20.2% |
| VIET NAM | 115,977 | +6.6% |
| INDIA | 101,646 | -11.2% |
| REPUBLIC OF KOREA | 99,590 | -7.6% |
| GERMANY | 89,938 | -7.5% |
| ITALY | 68,543 | -16.3% |
| TAIWAN | 60,073 | -5.0% |
| THAILAND | 52,476 | +5.2% |
| JAPAN | 45,711 | -17.9% |
| BELGIUM | 39,729 | -4.5% |
Busiest U.S. ports
| Port of entry | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| LONG BEACH, CA | 1,045,064 | -16.8% |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | 1,011,711 | +119.5% |
| NEW YORK/NEWARK AREA, NEWARK, NJ | 393,768 | -4.1% |
| SAVANNAH, GA | 143,744 | +2.7% |
| HOUSTON, TX | 131,665 | -11.3% |
| NORFOLK, VA | 101,095 | -9.1% |
| TACOMA, WA | 90,875 | -18.7% |
| SEATTLE, WA | 80,174 | +7.5% |
| CHARLESTON, SC | 79,123 | -1.8% |
| OAKLAND, CA | 54,488 | -12.6% |
Largest importers
| Importer | Shipments |
|---|---|
| IKEA SUPPLY AG | 31,206 |
| LG SOURCING INC | 16,598 |
| DOLE FRESH FRUIT COMPANY | 13,363 |
| LG ELECTRONICS USA | 12,505 |
| SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC | 9,432 |
| AMAZON SERVICES LLC | 5,052 |
| WALMART INC | 4,567 |
| TMALL INC | 4,183 |
| RTG FURNITURE CORP | 3,823 |
| CHIQUITA FRESH NORTH AMERICA L L C | 3,081 |
Largest suppliers
| Supplier | Shipments |
|---|---|
| JINGYUAN | 363,825 |
| HANGZHOU WELL TRANS SUPPLY CHAIN MA | 207,130 |
| TWTH EXPRESS CO LTD | 180,078 |
| YIWU DT SUPPLY CHAIN MANA NORTH SIDE OF CHUANGXIN | 169,187 |
| HAINAN GOLDEN SHELL CO LTD | 125,414 |
| GO FAST SUPPLY CHAIN LTD | 83,614 |
| ZHEJIANG ALBATROSS INTERNATIONAL | 72,726 |
| NINGBO BOYEE IMPORT & EXPORT CO | 19,434 |
| BAYCHEER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED | 16,013 |
| LG ELECTRONICS INC | 11,617 |
Methodology & citation
Figures are counts of U.S. Customs bill of lading records for ocean freight arriving at U.S. ports between July 2024 and September 2024. Product categories are 6-digit Harmonized System subheadings. Quarter-over-quarter compares Q2 2024, year-over-year compares Q3 2023. Shipment counts are records, not TEU or customs value.
This report is free to cite with attribution: “ImportDoor, State of U.S. Imports: Q3 2024 — U.S. Customs bill of lading data”, linked to this page.