Monthly trade report
United States imports: March 2026
The United States imported 49.5 million tonnes of goods in March 2026, up 31.2% from February 2026 and down 1.1% from March 2025, according to US bill of lading data (CBP ocean manifests) compiled by CargoFax.
- Import weight, March 2026
- 49.5 million tonnes
- vs February 2026
- +31.2%
- vs March 2025
- -1.1%
March imports rebounded 31% after February's low
US ocean imports rose 31.2% from February to 49.5 million tonnes in March 2026, though they were still 1.1% below March 2025. Shipment records rose 27.3%. Salt, stone, and cement (HS 25) climbed 69.3% to 4.34 million tonnes, and salt (HS 2501) rose 77.5% to 1.23 million tonnes, both at their highest levels since January 2025.
Fuels recovered too. Mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) as a whole rose 24.0% and held 15.9% of the total, and refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710) rose 70.2% to 1.91 million tonnes, their highest level since January 2025.
Most suppliers recovered. China rose 6.8% to 8.99 million tonnes, or 18.2% of the weight. South Korea rose 38.6% to 4.38 million tonnes, its highest level since January 2025, and Canada rose 64.4%, breaking a run of six monthly declines.
The first quarter totaled 131 million tonnes, 1.5% below the fourth quarter of 2025 and 9.0% below the first quarter of 2025. Several headings jumped from very small February bases, which likely reflects shifts in HS coding detail rather than trade.
What the data shows: March recovered most of February's dip and then some, though the quarter still ran behind 2025. The data does not show why refined fuels rose so sharply.
Month at a glance
| Metric | March 2026 | February 2026 | Change | March 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (tonnes) | 49,509,220 | 37,725,588 | +31.2% | 50,039,231 | -1.1% |
| Records | 1,730,448 | 1,359,350 | +27.3% | 1,842,640 | -6.1% |
| Importers | 136,474 | 115,135 | +18.5% | 177,805 | -23.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last 3 months Jan – Mar '26 | 131,238,108 | 133,276,225 Oct – Dec '25 | -1.5% | 144,268,217 | -9.0% |
| Quarter to date Jan – Mar '26 | 131,238,108 | 133,276,225 Oct – Dec '25 | -1.5% | 144,268,217 | -9.0% |
| Year to date Jan – Mar '26 | 131,238,108 | 144,268,217 Jan – Mar '25 | -9.0% | 144,268,217 | -9.0% |
What did the United States import in March 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Feb 2026 | vs Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 7,888,418 | 15.9% | +24.0% | -12.3% |
| 25 | Salt, stone, and cement | 4,338,208 | 8.8% | +69.3% | +29.8% |
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 2,515,037 | 5.1% | +99.1% | +33.3% |
| 39 | Plastics | 2,434,574 | 4.9% | -7.0% | -11.6% |
| 94 | Furniture and lighting | 2,368,237 | 4.8% | +79.3% | +83.3% |
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 2,353,135 | 4.8% | -8.9% | -23.6% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 1,912,586 | 3.9% | +8.9% | -11.0% |
| 08 | Fruit and nuts | 1,351,715 | 2.7% | +36.4% | +7.8% |
| 44 | Wood | 1,320,982 | 2.7% | -18.3% | -57.9% |
| 85 | Electrical equipment | 1,235,792 | 2.5% | +78.2% | +60.0% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Feb 2026 | vs Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 2,877,192 | 5.8% | -40.4% | -60.4% |
| 2701 | Coal | 2,704,110 | 5.5% | >+999% | >+999% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,910,105 | 3.9% | +70.2% | +83.4% |
| 2501 | Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 1,226,304 | 2.5% | +77.5% | +156.9% |
| 9403 | Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 1,015,728 | 2.1% | +88.8% | +116.7% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 937,889 | 1.9% | +103.2% | +73.6% |
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 905,755 | 1.8% | +128.8% | +15.2% |
| 9401 | Seats (not those of heading no. 9402), whether or not... | 891,581 | 1.8% | +27.7% | +19.4% |
| 2523 | Portland cement, aluminous cement (ciment fondu), slag... | 842,116 | 1.7% | +49.2% | +35.7% |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 632,997 | 1.3% | >+999% | >+999% |
What went up, what went down
Biggest increases
Refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710) rose 788,000 tonnes from February 2026, the largest increase of any product, to 1.91 million tonnes.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2701 | Coal | 212,415 | 2,704,110 | +2,491,695 | >+999% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,122,369 | 1,910,105 | +787,736 | +70.2% |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 15,256 | 632,997 | +617,741 | >+999% |
| 2501 | Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 691,014 | 1,226,304 | +535,291 | +77.5% |
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 395,815 | 905,755 | +509,939 | +128.8% |
Biggest decreases
The largest decrease was in crude petroleum (HS 2709), down 40.4% from February 2026.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 4,826,951 | 2,877,192 | -1,949,759 | -40.4% |
| 3921 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... | 1,098,929 | 485,080 | -613,849 | -55.9% |
| 8415 | Air conditioning machines | 1,058,041 | 623,975 | -434,066 | -41.0% |
| 2521 | Limestone flux | 294,986 | 30,305 | -264,681 | -89.7% |
| 4415 | Packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar... | 547,843 | 295,068 | -252,774 | -46.1% |
Where did the United States' imports come from?
| Origin | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Feb 2026 | vs Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 8,986,883 | 18.2% | +6.8% | -5.0% |
| South Korea | 4,384,341 | 8.9% | +38.6% | +12.0% |
| Canada | 3,327,395 | 6.7% | +64.4% | +49.5% |
| Vietnam | 2,574,986 | 5.2% | +20.6% | +14.1% |
| Mexico | 2,270,268 | 4.6% | +47.0% | -18.1% |
| Other or unspecified | 1,506,607 | 3.0% | +122.9% | -7.3% |
| Germany | 1,462,211 | 3.0% | +54.7% | +0.7% |
| Brazil | 1,293,301 | 2.6% | +55.9% | -56.9% |
| Japan | 1,205,190 | 2.4% | +43.1% | +12.2% |
| Bahamas | 1,138,107 | 2.3% | +21.2% | +69.9% |
Ports of entry
| Port | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Feb 2026 | vs Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey | 5,760,840 | 11.6% | +47.8% | +15.4% |
| Los Angeles, California | 4,454,504 | 9.0% | +9.5% | +0.2% |
| Long Beach, California | 4,162,689 | 8.4% | +18.7% | -14.4% |
| Houston, Texas | 3,681,055 | 7.4% | +20.2% | -9.1% |
| Savannah, Georgia | 3,159,531 | 6.4% | +26.3% | +1.0% |
Which shipping lines and carriers moved the most imports?
| # | Carrier | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Feb 2026 | vs Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY | 4,746,790 | 9.6% | +33.7% | -1.2% |
| 2 | COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT | 4,296,335 | 8.7% | +38.7% | +7.8% |
| 3 | MAERSK LINE | 3,694,485 | 7.5% | +20.6% | +7.5% |
| 4 | HAPAG-LLOYD CONTAINER LINE | 2,888,002 | 5.8% | +32.7% | -3.8% |
| 5 | ONE OCEAN EXPRESS | 2,693,578 | 5.4% | +26.9% | +23.7% |
| 6 | COSCO CONTAINER LINES AMERICAS | 2,074,752 | 4.2% | +38.1% | +36.9% |
| 7 | ZIM INTEGRATED SHIPPING SERVICES LTD | 2,041,857 | 4.1% | +33.3% | +11.8% |
| 8 | EVERGREEN LINE | 1,800,127 | 3.6% | +2.9% | +16.2% |
| 9 | STAR FREIGHT SOLUTIONS | 1,353,328 | 2.7% | +28.2% | +5.7% |
| 10 | CANADA STEAMSHIP LINES INC | 1,174,833 | 2.4% | +100.3% | +13.0% |
Carrier names appear on records covering 97.5% 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 Feb 2026 | vs Mar 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulf of Mexico → Port Arthur, Texas | 760,681 | 1.5% | +72.0% | +55.4% |
| 2 | Busan → Long Beach, California | 626,697 | 1.3% | +44.9% | +77.0% |
| 3 | Shanghai → Long Beach, California | 536,605 | 1.1% | -1.1% | -61.1% |
| 4 | Ningbo → Los Angeles, California | 519,795 | 1.0% | -9.7% | +68.2% |
| 5 | Gooch Island, BC → Seattle, Washington | 486,341 | 1.0% | +36.9% | +71.5% |
| 6 | Yantian → Long Beach, California | 471,523 | 1.0% | +5.9% | -23.3% |
| 7 | Busan → Houston, Texas | 443,773 | 0.9% | +20.7% | +29.1% |
| 8 | Acevedo → Honolulu, Hawaii | 432,363 | 0.9% | +305.1% | new |
| 9 | Yantian → Los Angeles, California | 420,160 | 0.8% | -33.1% | -13.2% |
| 10 | Busan → Savannah, Georgia | 358,298 | 0.7% | +32.4% | -1.4% |
Which imports grew and declined over the last three months?
Jan 2026 to Mar 2026 compared with Jan 2025 to Mar 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 523,717 | 3,252,455 | +2,728,738 | +521.0% |
| Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 1,330,107 | 2,660,615 | +1,330,509 | +100.0% |
| Refined petroleum fuels | 3,518,140 | 4,309,106 | +790,966 | +22.5% |
| Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 1,505,034 | 2,133,185 | +628,150 | +41.7% |
| Passenger cars | 112,446 | 665,562 | +553,117 | +491.9% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum | 20,939,232 | 13,034,998 | -7,904,234 | -37.7% |
| Screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws, screw hooks, rivets,... | 4,481,569 | 562,985 | -3,918,585 | -87.4% |
| Air conditioning machines | 4,349,544 | 2,927,066 | -1,422,478 | -32.7% |
| HS heading 9903 | 2,003,001 | 791,593 | -1,211,408 | -60.5% |
| HS heading 9902 | 1,877,737 | 754,765 | -1,122,972 | -59.8% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | 1,768,486 | 2,821,582 | +1,053,096 | +59.5% |
| Turkey | 1,762,177 | 2,660,427 | +898,250 | +51.0% |
| Morocco | 550,753 | 1,093,117 | +542,365 | +98.5% |
| Egypt | 858,815 | 1,374,777 | +515,962 | +60.1% |
| Venezuela | 1,250,366 | 1,723,660 | +473,294 | +37.9% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 31,924,686 | 26,835,817 | -5,088,869 | -15.9% |
| Brazil | 5,921,706 | 3,144,758 | -2,776,948 | -46.9% |
| Mexico | 7,372,301 | 5,754,699 | -1,617,603 | -21.9% |
| Spain | 2,740,475 | 2,000,237 | -740,239 | -27.0% |
| Aruba | 722,500 | 5,712 | -716,788 | -99.2% |
Top importers in March 2026
136,474 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 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 4 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 5 | Importer, HS 17 sugars | |
| 6 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 7 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 8 | Importer, HS 25 salt, stone, and cement |
12-month trend
| Month | Weight (tonnes) | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Feb 2026 | 37,725,588 | 1,359,350 |
| Mar 2026 | 49,509,220 | 1,730,448 |
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 2701 (coal) went from 212,000 tonnes to 2.70 million tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 8703 (passenger cars) went from 15,300 tonnes to 633,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 2520 (anhydrite) went from 105,000 tonnes to 471,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 68 (stone and cement articles (chapter only)) went from 2,560 tonnes to 431,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 2517 (pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates...) went from 131,000 tonnes to 415,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- Salt, stone, and cement (HS 25) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Vehicles and parts (HS 87) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Plastics (HS 39) fell to its lowest monthly level since January 2025.
- Furniture and lighting (HS 94) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
United States import facts, March 2026
- The United States imported 49.5 million tonnes of goods in March 2026, up 31.2% from February 2026 and down 1.1% from March 2025.
- Crude petroleum (HS 2709) was the top product heading, at 2.88 million tonnes.
- Refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710) rose 788,000 tonnes from February 2026, the largest increase of any product, to 1.91 million tonnes.
- The largest decrease was in crude petroleum (HS 2709), down 40.4% from February 2026.
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, March 2026: frequently asked questions
How much did the United States import in March 2026?
The United States imported 49.5 million tonnes in March 2026, up 31.2% from February 2026 and down 1.1% from March 2025, according to CargoFax customs records.
What does the United States import?
In March 2026, the United States' largest imports were crude petroleum (HS 2709, 2.88 million tonnes), coal (HS 2701, 2.70 million tonnes), and refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710, 1.91 million tonnes). The largest HS chapter was mineral fuels and oils, with 15.9% of the total.
Where does the United States import from?
The top countries of lading for the United States' imports in March 2026 were China (18.2%), South Korea (8.9%), and Canada (6.7%), by share of weight.
Are the United States' imports going up or down?
The United States' imports are falling. From January 2026 to March 2026, they totaled 131 million tonnes, down 9.0% from the same months last year. Year to date, the United States' imports are down 9.0% from the same period of 2025.
What are the United States' main ports of entry?
In March 2026, the United States' main points of entry were New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey with 11.6%, Los Angeles, California with 9.0%, and Long Beach, California with 8.4% of imports.
Which shipping lines carry the most imports into the United States?
By weight, the largest carriers of the United States' imports in March 2026 were MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY with 9.6%, COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT with 8.7%, and MAERSK LINE with 7.5%.
How many companies import into the United States?
136,474 distinct importers appear in the United States' customs records for March 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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