Monthly trade report
United States imports: January 2026
In January 2026, the United States imported 44.0 million tonnes of goods, down 0.7% from December 2025 and down 13.0% from January 2025, according to US bill of lading data (CBP ocean manifests) compiled by CargoFax.
- Import weight, January 2026
- 44.0 million tonnes
- vs December 2025
- -0.7%
- vs January 2025
- -13.0%
Crude oil fell to its lowest level since January 2025 as January imports held steady
Crude petroleum (HS 2709) imports fell 16.8% from December to 5.33 million tonnes in January 2026, the lowest monthly level since January 2025. Total US ocean import weight was little changed at 44.0 million tonnes, down 0.7% from December and 13.0% below January 2025. Mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) still made up 16.9% of the total, at 7.44 million tonnes.
Other lines moved the other way. Nitrogen fertilizers (HS 3102) more than doubled to 783,260 tonnes, up 112.8%, and plastics (HS 39) reached 3.01 million tonnes, their highest monthly level since January 2025. Fertilizers (HS 31) rose for a fourth consecutive month.
China supplied 21.4% of the weight, up 6.3% from December, followed by South Korea at 8.1%. Canada fell 22.1% to 2.67 million tonnes, its fifth consecutive monthly decline, and Mexico dropped to its lowest level since January 2025. Over November to January, import weight totaled 132 million tonnes, 4.4% less than in the prior three months.
The New York/Newark area received 10.9% of the weight, just ahead of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The number of shipment records rose 6.4% even as tonnage held steady.
What the data shows: January opened 2026 with steady total volumes but lighter crude and heavier fertilizer shipments. The data shows the shift in mix, not why crude arrivals fell.
Month at a glance
| Metric | January 2026 | December 2025 | Change | January 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (tonnes) | 44,003,300 | 44,314,176 | -0.7% | 50,595,050 | -13.0% |
| Records | 1,553,712 | 1,460,593 | +6.4% | 1,983,494 | -21.7% |
| Importers | 128,036 | 132,130 | -3.1% | 271,859 | -52.9% |
How does the month compare with the last three months, the quarter, and the year?
| Period | Total | Prior period | vs prior period | Same period last year | vs same period last year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter to date Jan '26 | 44,003,300 | 44,982,696 Oct '25 | -2.2% | 50,595,050 | -13.0% |
| Year to date Jan '26 | 44,003,300 | 50,595,050 Jan '25 | -13.0% | 50,595,050 | -13.0% |
What did the United States import in January 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Dec 2025 | vs Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 7,444,901 | 16.9% | -11.6% | -24.9% |
| 25 | Salt, stone, and cement | 3,493,234 | 7.9% | -5.9% | +0.5% |
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 3,025,452 | 6.9% | +4.2% | -4.9% |
| 39 | Plastics | 3,006,831 | 6.8% | +3.7% | +5.6% |
| 44 | Wood | 2,023,128 | 4.6% | -1.1% | -13.3% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 1,635,908 | 3.7% | -5.9% | -14.5% |
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 1,455,381 | 3.3% | -1.6% | -17.9% |
| 94 | Furniture and lighting | 1,446,062 | 3.3% | +2.7% | -3.3% |
| 08 | Fruit and nuts | 1,180,818 | 2.7% | +1.2% | -4.3% |
| 31 | Fertilizers | 1,002,025 | 2.3% | +87.6% | +30.4% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Dec 2025 | vs Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 5,330,854 | 12.1% | -16.8% | -31.2% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,276,632 | 2.9% | -16.8% | -14.3% |
| 3921 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... | 1,259,471 | 2.9% | +6.4% | +24.0% |
| 8415 | Air conditioning machines | 1,245,050 | 2.8% | +6.7% | -14.9% |
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 783,260 | 1.8% | +112.8% | +54.2% |
| 9401 | Seats (not those of heading no. 9402), whether or not... | 771,145 | 1.8% | +5.9% | -10.6% |
| 2501 | Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 743,297 | 1.7% | -2.5% | +91.2% |
| 4415 | Packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar... | 680,596 | 1.5% | +6.5% | +4.3% |
| 9403 | Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 579,450 | 1.3% | -2.8% | +7.4% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 549,232 | 1.2% | +21.5% | +2.5% |
What went up, what went down
Biggest increases
The largest increase came from nitrogen fertilizers (HS 3102): 415,000 tonnes more than in December 2025, up 112.8%.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 368,073 | 783,260 | +415,187 | +112.8% |
| 2506 | (other than natural sands), quartzite, whether or not... | 52,771 | 283,692 | +230,921 | +437.6% |
| 2515 | Marble, travertine, ecaussine and other calcareous stone | 150,569 | 347,250 | +196,681 | +130.6% |
| 2701 | Coal | 139,497 | 335,930 | +196,434 | +140.8% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 452,098 | 549,232 | +97,135 | +21.5% |
Biggest decreases
Crude petroleum (HS 2709) fell by 1.08 million tonnes from December 2025, more than any other product.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 6,408,763 | 5,330,854 | -1,077,909 | -16.8% |
| 2523 | Portland cement, aluminous cement (ciment fondu), slag... | 887,971 | 523,279 | -364,692 | -41.1% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,534,272 | 1,276,632 | -257,640 | -16.8% |
| 2517 | Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates... | 356,679 | 181,068 | -175,610 | -49.2% |
| 9803 | HS heading 9803 | 273,327 | 170,122 | -103,205 | -37.8% |
Where did the United States' imports come from?
| Origin | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Dec 2025 | vs Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 9,437,015 | 21.4% | +6.3% | -23.1% |
| South Korea | 3,555,089 | 8.1% | +12.6% | -6.3% |
| Canada | 2,671,857 | 6.1% | -22.1% | -22.5% |
| Vietnam | 2,325,704 | 5.3% | +0.5% | -0.3% |
| Mexico | 1,940,338 | 4.4% | -7.2% | -4.9% |
| Other or unspecified | 1,505,880 | 3.4% | -6.6% | -17.7% |
| Colombia | 1,466,242 | 3.3% | +14.9% | +26.9% |
| India | 1,246,408 | 2.8% | +24.4% | +3.9% |
| Panama | 1,026,050 | 2.3% | -8.9% | -21.5% |
| Brazil | 1,021,703 | 2.3% | -27.9% | -32.0% |
Ports of entry
| Port | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Dec 2025 | vs Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey | 4,794,657 | 10.9% | +2.2% | -13.2% |
| Los Angeles, California | 4,510,969 | 10.3% | -4.5% | -18.8% |
| Long Beach, California | 4,241,070 | 9.6% | -7.8% | -26.2% |
| Houston, Texas | 3,561,519 | 8.1% | +7.8% | -20.7% |
| Savannah, Georgia | 2,769,979 | 6.3% | +2.7% | +3.8% |
Which shipping lines and carriers moved the most imports?
| # | Carrier | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Dec 2025 | vs Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY | 4,157,259 | 9.4% | -4.7% | -20.6% |
| 2 | COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT | 4,064,462 | 9.2% | +24.3% | -2.7% |
| 3 | MAERSK LINE | 3,629,529 | 8.2% | +1.5% | +14.0% |
| 4 | HAPAG-LLOYD CONTAINER LINE | 2,616,705 | 5.9% | +0.4% | +1.8% |
| 5 | ONE OCEAN EXPRESS | 2,459,523 | 5.6% | +4.8% | -0.5% |
| 6 | ZIM INTEGRATED SHIPPING SERVICES LTD | 1,967,005 | 4.5% | +6.2% | -17.0% |
| 7 | EVERGREEN LINE | 1,757,077 | 4.0% | +3.6% | -2.4% |
| 8 | COSCO CONTAINER LINES AMERICAS | 1,662,356 | 3.8% | +20.7% | -7.9% |
| 9 | AET INC LTD | 1,411,371 | 3.2% | -1.8% | +8.4% |
| 10 | STAR FREIGHT SOLUTIONS | 1,384,111 | 3.1% | +30.0% | +10.7% |
Carrier names appear on records covering 98.2% of the month's total. Names are shown as recorded and may include local agents of the carrier.
Which import routes carried the most?
| # | Route | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Dec 2025 | vs Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulf of Mexico → Port Arthur, Texas | 793,309 | 1.8% | +3.4% | +26.3% |
| 2 | Shanghai → Long Beach, California | 683,195 | 1.6% | +8.4% | -25.5% |
| 3 | Ningbo → Los Angeles, California | 606,250 | 1.4% | +3.4% | +17.7% |
| 4 | Yantian → Long Beach, California | 553,542 | 1.3% | -10.9% | -55.8% |
| 5 | Yantian → Los Angeles, California | 516,431 | 1.2% | +4.3% | -14.3% |
| 6 | Busan → Houston, Texas | 498,952 | 1.1% | +74.1% | +21.7% |
| 7 | Shanghai → Los Angeles, California | 475,923 | 1.1% | -8.9% | -34.0% |
| 8 | Ningbo → Long Beach, California | 416,441 | 0.9% | +5.5% | -39.6% |
| 9 | Busan → Long Beach, California | 394,166 | 0.9% | -2.6% | +11.7% |
| 10 | Vung Tau → Los Angeles, California | 318,238 | 0.7% | -10.2% | +45.7% |
Which imports grew and declined over the last three months?
Nov 2025 to Jan 2026 compared with Aug 2025 to Oct 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen fertilizers | 652,456 | 1,550,769 | +898,313 | +137.7% |
| Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood | 1,141,765 | 1,699,243 | +557,478 | +48.8% |
| Logs | 613,833 | 1,148,277 | +534,443 | +87.1% |
| Natural gas and LPG | 405,626 | 715,562 | +309,936 | +76.4% |
| Marble, travertine, ecaussine and other calcareous stone | 368,952 | 672,222 | +303,271 | +82.2% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum | 20,893,330 | 18,010,485 | -2,882,845 | -13.8% |
| Natural | 1,131,801 | 630,262 | -501,539 | -44.3% |
| Limestone flux | 1,212,247 | 730,143 | -482,104 | -39.8% |
| Granite, porphyry, basalt, sandstone, other monumental... | 1,361,759 | 886,621 | -475,137 | -34.9% |
| Air conditioning machines | 3,870,057 | 3,583,487 | -286,570 | -7.4% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1,896,527 | 2,621,190 | +724,664 | +38.2% |
| Bahamas | 1,866,488 | 2,467,414 | +600,926 | +32.2% |
| Thailand | 1,929,691 | 2,371,857 | +442,167 | +22.9% |
| South Korea | 9,513,576 | 9,887,600 | +374,024 | +3.9% |
| Russia | 721,469 | 1,085,669 | +364,200 | +50.5% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 12,863,082 | 9,627,052 | -3,236,030 | -25.2% |
| China | 28,778,471 | 27,159,112 | -1,619,359 | -5.6% |
| Mexico | 7,202,108 | 6,441,001 | -761,107 | -10.6% |
| Panama | 3,443,475 | 2,888,071 | -555,404 | -16.1% |
| India | 3,690,865 | 3,290,744 | -400,121 | -10.8% |
Top importers in January 2026
128,036 importers received shipments this month. See who they are, what they bought, and from whom in Explorer.
| # | Importer | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 2 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 3 | Importer, HS 25 salt, stone, and cement | |
| 4 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 5 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 6 | Importer, HS 25 salt, stone, and cement | |
| 7 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 8 | Importer, HS 25 salt, stone, and cement |
12-month trend
| Month | Weight (tonnes) | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | 43,633,936 | 1,767,759 |
| Mar 2025 | 50,039,231 | 1,842,640 |
| Apr 2025 | 49,955,384 | 2,042,283 |
| May 2025 | 46,300,444 | 1,350,331 |
| Jun 2025 | 48,676,154 | 1,473,947 |
| Jul 2025 | 50,287,801 | 1,656,219 |
| Aug 2025 | 48,876,546 | 1,645,602 |
| Sep 2025 | 44,580,106 | 1,523,059 |
| Oct 2025 | 44,982,696 | 1,529,195 |
| Nov 2025 | 43,979,353 | 1,473,599 |
| Dec 2025 | 44,314,176 | 1,460,593 |
| Jan 2026 | 44,003,300 | 1,553,712 |
What looks unusual this month?
These changes may reflect a few large shipments, late records, or a classification change rather than a trend. Check them in the records before quoting them.
- HS 2506 ((other than natural sands), quartzite, whether or not...) went from 52,800 tonnes to 284,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 1703 (resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar) went from 2,650 tonnes to 86,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- Plastics (HS 39) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Paper and paperboard (HS 48) fell to its lowest monthly level since January 2025.
- Special classification provisions (HS 98) fell to its lowest monthly level since January 2025.
- Ores (HS 26) fell to its lowest monthly level since January 2025.
United States import facts, January 2026
- In January 2026, the United States imported 44.0 million tonnes of goods, down 0.7% from December 2025 and down 13.0% from January 2025.
- No product heading was larger than crude petroleum (HS 2709), at 5.33 million tonnes.
- The largest increase came from nitrogen fertilizers (HS 3102): 415,000 tonnes more than in December 2025, up 112.8%.
- Crude petroleum (HS 2709) fell by 1.08 million tonnes from December 2025, more than any other product.
Methodology
US import bills of lading (CBP ACE ocean manifests) via CargoFax. This report measures weight in tonnes and the number of records. Categories follow the Harmonized System. Records are customs line items; importers are distinct importers with a record in the month. The latest month may be revised as late records arrive. The period table leaves out a comparison that reaches before January 2025, when the series starts, or that includes a month not used as a base. Year to date is compared with the same months a year earlier. Records are ocean bills of lading (US import manifests and export bills); one record is one bill of lading line. Countries are the country where goods were loaded (imports) or the destination country (exports). US values in the source are model estimates that do not match official totals, so these reports measure weight and records only. Weights above 200,000 tonnes on one line, or above 5,000 tonnes outside bulk goods, are treated as recording errors and left out of weight totals; the records still count. Some lines carry only a 2-digit HS chapter and are shown as "chapter only". About a third of import bills do not name the importer. Export records for January and February 2026 may be incomplete at the data provider.
FAQ
United States trade, January 2026: frequently asked questions
How much did the United States import in January 2026?
The United States imported 44.0 million tonnes in January 2026, down 0.7% from December 2025 and down 13.0% from January 2025, according to CargoFax customs records.
What does the United States import?
In January 2026, the United States' largest imports were crude petroleum (HS 2709, 5.33 million tonnes), refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710, 1.28 million tonnes), and plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... (HS 3921, 1.26 million tonnes). The largest HS chapter was mineral fuels and oils, with 16.9% of the total.
Where does the United States import from?
The top countries of lading for the United States' imports in January 2026 were China (21.4%), South Korea (8.1%), and Canada (6.1%), by share of weight.
Are the United States' imports going up or down?
The United States' imports are falling. From November 2025 to January 2026, they totaled 132 million tonnes, down 4.4% from the three months before. Year to date, the United States' imports are down 13.0% from the same period of 2025.
What are the United States' main ports of entry?
In January 2026, the United States' main points of entry were New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey with 10.9%, Los Angeles, California with 10.3%, and Long Beach, California with 9.6% of imports.
Which shipping lines carry the most imports into the United States?
By weight, the largest carriers of the United States' imports in January 2026 were MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY with 9.4%, COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT with 9.2%, and MAERSK LINE with 8.2%.
How many companies import into the United States?
128,036 distinct importers appear in the United States' customs records for January 2026. Their names are available to subscribers in Atlas Explorer.
Where can I get the United States import and export data?
CargoFax publishes this United States trade report free every month. The United States customs records behind it, with company names, HS codes, countries, and ports, are searchable in Atlas Explorer and available in bulk through Files.
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