Monthly trade report
United States imports: April 2026
In April 2026, the United States imported 45.5 million tonnes of goods, down 8.0% from March 2026 and down 8.8% from April 2025, according to US bill of lading data (CBP ocean manifests) compiled by CargoFax.
- Import weight, April 2026
- 45.5 million tonnes
- vs March 2026
- -8.0%
- vs April 2025
- -8.8%
Import weight eased 8.0% in April, though direct-reduced iron reached a high
Direct-reduced iron (HS 7203) more than doubled in April 2026 to 398,811 tonnes, its highest monthly level since January 2025. Fuels moved the other way: mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) fell 16.0% to 6.63 million tonnes, 14.6% of all US ocean imports, and refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710) eased 4.4% to 1.83 million tonnes after March's high.
The total fell 8.0% from March to 45.5 million tonnes, 8.8% below April 2025. The number of shipments edged down 7.2%, roughly in line with tonnage. Salt (HS 2501) fell 58.0% to 514,462 tonnes after its March high.
China supplied 19.2% of the weight, down 2.7% to 8.75 million tonnes. Vietnam edged up 3.5% to 2.67 million tonnes, 22.6% above April 2025, and Canada edged down 2.3%. Mexico fell 22.0%.
From February to April, imports totaled 133 million tonnes, 0.4% more than the prior three months and 7.6% less than a year earlier. Year to date, the 177 million tonnes remain 9.0% below 2025.
What the data shows: April gave back part of March's recovery, with fuels and salt lighter. The year-to-date total remains well below 2025, and the data does not show why volumes eased.
Month at a glance
| Metric | April 2026 | March 2026 | Change | April 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (tonnes) | 45,540,423 | 49,509,220 | -8.0% | 49,955,384 | -8.8% |
| Records | 1,605,371 | 1,730,448 | -7.2% | 2,042,283 | -21.4% |
| Importers | 125,755 | 136,474 | -7.9% | 195,164 | -35.6% |
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 Feb – Apr '26 | 132,775,230 | 132,296,828 Nov '25 – Jan '26 | +0.4% | 143,628,551 | -7.6% |
| Quarter to date Apr '26 | 45,540,423 | 44,003,300 Jan '26 | +3.5% | 49,955,384 | -8.8% |
| Year to date Jan – Apr '26 | 176,778,530 | 194,223,601 Jan – Apr '25 | -9.0% | 194,223,601 | -9.0% |
What did the United States import in April 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Mar 2026 | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 6,629,580 | 14.6% | -16.0% | -29.3% |
| 25 | Salt, stone, and cement | 3,363,062 | 7.4% | -22.5% | -3.8% |
| 39 | Plastics | 2,623,532 | 5.8% | +7.8% | -5.3% |
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 2,523,086 | 5.5% | +7.2% | -20.4% |
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 1,992,609 | 4.4% | -20.8% | +10.5% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 1,936,893 | 4.3% | +1.3% | +9.7% |
| 94 | Furniture and lighting | 1,717,179 | 3.8% | -27.5% | +35.1% |
| 44 | Wood | 1,433,150 | 3.1% | +8.5% | -60.4% |
| 08 | Fruit and nuts | 1,157,670 | 2.5% | -14.4% | -0.4% |
| 73 | Iron and steel articles | 1,079,038 | 2.4% | +6.7% | -46.6% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Mar 2026 | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 3,127,214 | 6.9% | +8.7% | -58.7% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,826,667 | 4.0% | -4.4% | +36.2% |
| 8415 | Air conditioning machines | 874,259 | 1.9% | +40.1% | -41.7% |
| 2523 | Portland cement, aluminous cement (ciment fondu), slag... | 831,020 | 1.8% | -1.3% | +21.2% |
| 2701 | Coal | 826,466 | 1.8% | -69.4% | +278.9% |
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 786,924 | 1.7% | -13.1% | -23.4% |
| 3921 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... | 779,799 | 1.7% | +60.8% | -25.9% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 721,890 | 1.6% | -23.0% | +36.2% |
| 9403 | Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 712,734 | 1.6% | -29.8% | +56.8% |
| 9401 | Seats (not those of heading no. 9402), whether or not... | 703,557 | 1.5% | -21.1% | -4.5% |
What went up, what went down
Biggest increases
The largest increase came from plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... (HS 3921): 295,000 tonnes more than in March 2026, up 60.8%.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils (chapter only) | 75,635 | 396,249 | +320,614 | +423.9% |
| 3921 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... | 485,080 | 779,799 | +294,719 | +60.8% |
| 8415 | Air conditioning machines | 623,975 | 874,259 | +250,284 | +40.1% |
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 2,877,192 | 3,127,214 | +250,022 | +8.7% |
| 7203 | Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron... | 188,538 | 398,811 | +210,273 | +111.5% |
Biggest decreases
Coal (HS 2701) fell by 1.88 million tonnes from March 2026, more than any other product.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2701 | Coal | 2,704,110 | 826,466 | -1,877,643 | -69.4% |
| 2501 | Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 1,226,304 | 514,462 | -711,843 | -58.0% |
| 9403 | Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 1,015,728 | 712,734 | -302,995 | -29.8% |
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 632,997 | 339,900 | -293,097 | -46.3% |
| 2620 | Slag, ash and residues | 338,758 | 70,035 | -268,723 | -79.3% |
Where did the United States' imports come from?
| Origin | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Mar 2026 | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 8,748,002 | 19.2% | -2.7% | -5.6% |
| South Korea | 3,769,879 | 8.3% | -14.0% | +7.7% |
| Canada | 3,251,098 | 7.1% | -2.3% | +10.2% |
| Vietnam | 2,665,541 | 5.9% | +3.5% | +22.6% |
| Mexico | 1,770,357 | 3.9% | -22.0% | -41.4% |
| Colombia | 1,433,642 | 3.1% | +43.4% | -14.2% |
| Brazil | 1,250,959 | 2.7% | -3.3% | -58.6% |
| India | 1,234,715 | 2.7% | +10.2% | -2.0% |
| Germany | 1,175,688 | 2.6% | -19.6% | -15.6% |
| Belgium | 1,047,433 | 2.3% | +7.1% | -10.8% |
Ports of entry
| Port | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Mar 2026 | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, California | 5,399,503 | 11.9% | +21.2% | +16.7% |
| New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey | 4,764,282 | 10.5% | -17.3% | -7.9% |
| Houston, Texas | 4,280,740 | 9.4% | +16.3% | +9.3% |
| Long Beach, California | 4,235,684 | 9.3% | +1.8% | -23.1% |
| Savannah, Georgia | 3,003,801 | 6.6% | -4.9% | +13.8% |
Which shipping lines and carriers moved the most imports?
| # | Carrier | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Mar 2026 | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY | 4,895,292 | 10.7% | +3.1% | -11.7% |
| 2 | COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT | 3,944,034 | 8.7% | -8.2% | +8.0% |
| 3 | MAERSK LINE | 3,434,305 | 7.5% | -7.0% | -5.4% |
| 4 | HAPAG-LLOYD CONTAINER LINE | 2,744,307 | 6.0% | -5.0% | +2.3% |
| 5 | ONE OCEAN EXPRESS | 2,656,953 | 5.8% | -1.4% | +18.9% |
| 6 | ZIM INTEGRATED SHIPPING SERVICES LTD | 1,839,201 | 4.0% | -9.9% | -2.3% |
| 7 | COSCO CONTAINER LINES AMERICAS | 1,813,265 | 4.0% | -12.6% | +22.6% |
| 8 | EVERGREEN LINE | 1,753,287 | 3.8% | -2.6% | +18.8% |
| 9 | MAERSK TANKERS | 1,415,580 | 3.1% | +59.0% | +5.0% |
| 10 | STAR FREIGHT SOLUTIONS | 1,287,878 | 2.8% | -4.8% | +16.0% |
Carrier names appear on records covering 98.3% 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 Mar 2026 | vs Apr 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ningbo → Los Angeles, California | 620,082 | 1.4% | +19.3% | +62.3% |
| 2 | Shanghai → Long Beach, California | 592,054 | 1.3% | +10.3% | -42.7% |
| 3 | Shanghai → Los Angeles, California | 577,217 | 1.3% | +67.3% | +8.5% |
| 4 | Yantian → Los Angeles, California | 553,086 | 1.2% | +31.6% | +10.7% |
| 5 | Yantian → Long Beach, California | 519,473 | 1.1% | +10.2% | -36.7% |
| 6 | Busan → Houston, Texas | 514,780 | 1.1% | +16.0% | +48.6% |
| 7 | Busan → Long Beach, California | 432,178 | 0.9% | -31.0% | -7.8% |
| 8 | Ningbo → Long Beach, California | 424,141 | 0.9% | +20.2% | +3.8% |
| 9 | Vung Tau → Los Angeles, California | 405,890 | 0.9% | +34.1% | +41.1% |
| 10 | Gooch Island, BC → Seattle, Washington | 397,068 | 0.9% | -18.4% | +15.8% |
Which imports grew and declined over the last three months?
Feb 2026 to Apr 2026 compared with Feb 2025 to Apr 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 630,337 | 3,742,991 | +3,112,655 | +493.8% |
| Refined petroleum fuels | 3,369,926 | 4,859,141 | +1,489,215 | +44.2% |
| Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 1,295,379 | 2,431,780 | +1,136,400 | +87.7% |
| Passenger cars | 105,667 | 988,153 | +882,486 | +835.2% |
| Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 1,420,253 | 2,266,468 | +846,215 | +59.6% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum | 20,756,141 | 10,831,358 | -9,924,783 | -47.8% |
| Screws, bolts, nuts, coach screws, screw hooks, rivets,... | 4,219,511 | 548,660 | -3,670,851 | -87.0% |
| Air conditioning machines | 4,385,372 | 2,556,274 | -1,829,097 | -41.7% |
| HS heading 9903 | 2,110,403 | 692,278 | -1,418,125 | -67.2% |
| Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood | 2,160,271 | 783,239 | -1,377,032 | -63.7% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 7,341,009 | 8,602,469 | +1,261,459 | +17.2% |
| Turkey | 1,793,137 | 2,648,989 | +855,852 | +47.7% |
| Egypt | 757,995 | 1,601,628 | +843,633 | +111.3% |
| Venezuela | 1,102,789 | 1,916,192 | +813,403 | +73.8% |
| Bahamas | 2,150,546 | 2,931,680 | +781,134 | +36.3% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 7,443,350 | 3,374,014 | -4,069,336 | -54.7% |
| Mexico | 8,351,899 | 5,584,718 | -2,767,182 | -33.1% |
| China | 28,913,717 | 26,146,804 | -2,766,913 | -9.6% |
| Netherlands | 2,409,703 | 1,730,932 | -678,770 | -28.2% |
| Aruba | 674,102 | 5,837 | -668,265 | -99.1% |
Top importers in April 2026
125,755 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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Apr 2026 | 45,540,423 | 1,605,371 |
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 27 (mineral fuels and oils (chapter only)) went from 75,600 tonnes to 396,000 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 4705 (wood pulp obtained by a combination of mechanical and...) went from 3,340 tonnes to 70,500 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 23 (food industry residues and animal feed (chapter only)) went from 527 tonnes to 54,800 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates... (HS 2517) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron... (HS 7203) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Mineral fuels and oils (chapter only) (HS 27) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Singapore reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
United States import facts, April 2026
- In April 2026, the United States imported 45.5 million tonnes of goods, down 8.0% from March 2026 and down 8.8% from April 2025.
- No product heading was larger than crude petroleum (HS 2709), at 3.13 million tonnes.
- The largest increase came from plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in... (HS 3921): 295,000 tonnes more than in March 2026, up 60.8%.
- Coal (HS 2701) fell by 1.88 million tonnes from March 2026, 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, April 2026: frequently asked questions
How much did the United States import in April 2026?
The United States imported 45.5 million tonnes in April 2026, down 8.0% from March 2026 and down 8.8% from April 2025, according to CargoFax customs records.
What does the United States import?
In April 2026, the United States' largest imports were crude petroleum (HS 2709, 3.13 million tonnes), refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710, 1.83 million tonnes), and air conditioning machines (HS 8415, 874,000 tonnes). The largest HS chapter was mineral fuels and oils, with 14.6% of the total.
Where does the United States import from?
The top countries of lading for the United States' imports in April 2026 were China (19.2%), South Korea (8.3%), and Canada (7.1%), by share of weight.
Are the United States' imports going up or down?
The United States' imports are falling. From February 2026 to April 2026, they totaled 133 million tonnes, down 7.6% 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 April 2026, the United States' main points of entry were Los Angeles, California with 11.9%, New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey with 10.5%, and Houston, Texas with 9.4% of imports.
Which shipping lines carry the most imports into the United States?
By weight, the largest carriers of the United States' imports in April 2026 were MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY with 10.7%, COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT with 8.7%, and MAERSK LINE with 7.5%.
How many companies import into the United States?
125,755 distinct importers appear in the United States' customs records for April 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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