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East, Gulf Ports’ Gains Imports Share, ITS

[ February 19, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

U.S. container imports fell in January from a year earlier but remained above historical averages, while East and Gulf coasts ports captured a larger share of inbound volumes, according to the February Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index released by ITS Logistics.

Imports totaled 2.32 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in January, down 6.8 percent year over year but slightly above the six-year average for the month. Volumes rose modestly from December levels.

East and Gulf coasts ports increased their share of total imports to 40.8 percent, up from 39.3 percent in December, reflecting a shift in routing as Red Sea trade lanes reopen and imports from Europe, Africa and South America rise. China-origin imports increased 9.3 percent from December but remained about 22 percent below 2025 levels.

The largest percentage gains in China-origin cargo were recorded at the Port of Houston, while several West Coast gateways – including Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma and Seattle – also posted month-over-month increases.

Analysts cited tariff uncertainty, softer consumer sentiment and a return to typical seasonal patterns for muted pre-Lunar New Year demand. Volumes are expected to ease through early February before rebounding as cargo loaded ahead of the holiday arrives in the U.S.

The report said year-over-year container volumes in early 2026 are projected to be flat to slightly higher compared with 2025, when importers frontloaded shipments in advance of anticipated tariffs.

Beyond the docks, severe winter weather disrupted truckload and rail operations in January. While port-to-rail service has largely normalized, bottlenecks and delays persist at inland terminals in Chicago; Cincinnati; and Memphis, according to industry reports. Ongoing storms across the central and eastern U.S. have extended transit times and tightened trucking capacity.

Regulatory enforcement is also affecting capacity in some corridors. In Oklahoma, roadside checks along Interstate 35 have included reviews of drivers’ English-language proficiency under a joint effort involving state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Texas has issued more than 1,300 English-language-proficiency out-of-service violations since June, according to independent research cited in the report.

The index tracks container activity at major U.S. coastal ports and inland rail ramps, along with conditions in domestic trucking markets.

Tags: ITS Logistics