State of U.S. Imports: Q4 2025
U.S. ocean import activity from October 2025 through December 2025, 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 2,421,299 shipments in Q4 2025, down 6.8% versus Q3 2025 and down 23.4% year-over-year.
- The highest-volume import category was Apparatus based on the use of X-rays or of alpha, beta, gamma or other ionizing radiation… (HS 902230), with 33,496 shipments (+84.6% quarter-over-quarter).
- The fastest-growing high-volume category was Date, sealing or numbering stamps and the like, (including devices for printing or emboss… (HS 961100), up 136.1% from the prior quarter to 12,397 shipments.
- The steepest decline among high-volume categories was Articles for Christmas festivities and parts and accessories thereof (HS 950510), down 55.1% quarter-over-quarter.
- CHINA was the largest origin country with 1,073,530 shipments — 44.3% of all U.S. ocean imports.
- The busiest U.S. port of entry was LOS ANGELES, CA, receiving 448,826 shipments.
- The largest importer by shipment count was IKEA SUPPLY AG, with 26,791 shipments.
Shipments
2,421,299
Containers
3,338,366
Quarter over quarter
-6.8%
vs Q3 2025
Year over year
-23.4%
vs Q4 2024
Monthly shipment volume
834,086October 2025
806,016November 2025
781,197December 2025
Top import categories
Fastest growing
| Product (HS code) | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| Date, sealing or numbering stamps and the like, (including devices for printing or embossing labels), designed for operating in the hand961100 | 12,397 | +136.1% |
| Butadiene rubber (BR)400220 | 4,601 | +126.1% |
| Cotton, carded or combed520300 | 10,937 | +116.6% |
| U, I or H sections, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of 80 mm or more, h sections721633 | 3,620 | +107.1% |
| Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar, xylenes270730 | 5,326 | +103.9% |
Steepest declines
| Product (HS code) | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| Articles for Christmas festivities and parts and accessories thereof950510 | 3,443 | -55.1% |
| Other vehicles, with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1,500 cc but not exceeding 3,000 cc870323 | 3,522 | -35.8% |
| Combined refrigerator-freezers, fitted with separate external doors or drawers, or combinations thereof841810 | 3,767 | -28.8% |
| Other metal furniture940320 | 5,051 | -27.9% |
| Other seats, with wooden frames, upholstered940161 | 12,611 | -22.7% |
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 | 1,073,530 | -6.8% |
| VIET NAM | 153,259 | -3.6% |
| INDIA | 99,112 | -17.2% |
| GERMANY | 85,685 | -5.8% |
| REPUBLIC OF KOREA | 84,128 | -7.8% |
| ITALY | 70,892 | -1.0% |
| THAILAND | 58,567 | -4.2% |
| TAIWAN | 58,449 | -6.6% |
| JAPAN | 48,396 | -3.1% |
| INDONESIA | 36,292 | -12.4% |
Busiest U.S. ports
| Port of entry | Shipments | QoQ |
|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES, CA | 448,826 | -10.0% |
| LONG BEACH, CA | 422,628 | -2.4% |
| NEW YORK/NEWARK AREA, NEWARK, NJ | 403,732 | -8.7% |
| SAVANNAH, GA | 168,322 | -2.1% |
| HOUSTON, TX | 150,584 | -11.4% |
| NORFOLK, VA | 106,983 | -4.6% |
| TACOMA, WA | 97,228 | -7.5% |
| CHARLESTON, SC | 75,078 | -7.1% |
| MIAMI, FL | 69,391 | -3.8% |
| OAKLAND, CA | 66,311 | -6.3% |
Largest importers
| Importer | Shipments |
|---|---|
| IKEA SUPPLY AG | 26,791 |
| DOLE FRESH FRUIT COMPANY | 14,674 |
| OLD NAVY LLC | 9,150 |
| SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC | 8,615 |
| HOME DEPOT USA | 8,237 |
| WAL MART INC | 7,223 |
| WALMART INC | 5,827 |
| TESLA INC | 5,791 |
| TMALL INC | 4,759 |
| THE GAP INC | 4,740 |
Largest suppliers
| Supplier | Shipments |
|---|---|
| ZHEJIANG ALBATROSS INTL TRANSPORTAT | 15,037 |
| HONGKONG MILLEY LIMITED | 6,590 |
| SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD | 5,419 |
| HANGZHOU YIDE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEM | 4,632 |
| PT MAERSK LOGISTICS INDONESIA | 4,497 |
| UNION DE BANANEROS ECUATORIANOS S A | 3,920 |
| SEACO SHIPPING SA | 3,887 |
| CENTURY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS SHENZ | 3,559 |
| SAILUN GROUP | 3,527 |
| ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD | 3,498 |
Methodology & citation
Figures are counts of U.S. Customs bill of lading records for ocean freight arriving at U.S. ports between October 2025 and December 2025. Product categories are 6-digit Harmonized System subheadings. Quarter-over-quarter compares Q3 2025, year-over-year compares Q4 2024. Shipment counts are records, not TEU or customs value.
This report is free to cite with attribution: “ImportDoor, State of U.S. Imports: Q4 2025 — U.S. Customs bill of lading data”, linked to this page.