Monthly trade report
United States imports: September 2026
The United States imported 48.9 million tonnes of goods in September 2026, down 5.7% from August 2026 and up 9.6% from September 2025, according to US bill of lading data (CBP ocean manifests) compiled by CargoFax.
- Import weight, September 2026
- 48.9 million tonnes
- vs August 2026
- -5.7%
- vs September 2025
- +9.6%
Fuel volumes eased in September, but the quarter ran ahead of 2025
US ocean imports weighed 48.9 million tonnes in September 2026, down 5.7% from August and up 9.6% from September 2025. Much of the decline was in energy: mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) fell 13.1% to 8.07 million tonnes, still 16.5% of the total. Salt (HS 2501) moved against the trend, up 20.9% to 815,688 tonnes.
The quarter was firmer than the month. From July to September, import weight totaled 151 million tonnes, 13.4% more than in the second quarter and 4.9% more than a year earlier. Year to date, the total of 415 million tonnes is 4.2% below the same months of 2025.
China supplied 22.1% of the weight, ahead of Canada at 8.4% and South Korea at 7.6%. Imports from Brazil rose 32.1% from August. Knitted apparel (HS 61) rose for a fifth consecutive month, to 536,941 tonnes, its highest monthly level since January 2025.
Long Beach, Los Angeles, and the New York/Newark area each received between 10.5% and 12.0% of the weight. MSC carried the largest share among shipping lines, at 10.9%.
What the data shows: September was a softer month for fuels, while apparel kept rising and the quarter ended above 2025. The data shows the volumes, not why energy shipments fell.
Month at a glance
| Metric | September 2026 | August 2026 | Change | September 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (tonnes) | 48,858,783 | 51,830,325 | -5.7% | 44,580,106 | +9.6% |
| Records | 1,889,147 | 1,887,197 | +0.1% | 1,523,059 | +24.0% |
| Importers | 162,120 | 151,560 | +7.0% | 135,980 | +19.2% |
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 Jul – Sep '26 | 150,755,428 | 132,951,610 Apr – Jun '26 | +13.4% | 143,744,453 | +4.9% |
| Quarter to date Jul – Sep '26 | 150,755,428 | 132,951,610 Apr – Jun '26 | +13.4% | 143,744,453 | +4.9% |
| Year to date Jan – Sep '26 | 414,945,146 | 432,944,651 Jan – Sep '25 | -4.2% | 432,944,651 | -4.2% |
What did the United States import in September 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Aug 2026 | vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 8,069,048 | 16.5% | -13.1% | -4.3% |
| 25 | Salt, stone, and cement | 4,284,430 | 8.8% | -6.1% | +7.5% |
| 39 | Plastics | 2,815,188 | 5.8% | -1.1% | +0.5% |
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 2,463,111 | 5.0% | -6.0% | +81.6% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 2,358,848 | 4.8% | +8.4% | +38.2% |
| 94 | Furniture and lighting | 2,354,007 | 4.8% | -1.4% | +90.1% |
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 2,125,174 | 4.3% | -3.5% | -24.7% |
| 85 | Electrical equipment | 1,366,132 | 2.8% | +2.3% | +88.1% |
| 73 | Iron and steel articles | 1,363,627 | 2.8% | +1.1% | +65.4% |
| 44 | Wood | 1,353,893 | 2.8% | -4.5% | -29.8% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Aug 2026 | vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 2,710,068 | 5.5% | -11.2% | -58.2% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils (chapter only) | 2,139,355 | 4.4% | -36.7% | new |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,554,072 | 3.2% | -9.0% | -0.6% |
| 2701 | Coal | 1,281,689 | 2.6% | +60.3% | +808.5% |
| 9403 | Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 1,039,935 | 2.1% | -2.5% | +121.2% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 1,033,965 | 2.1% | -4.6% | +160.8% |
| 2523 | Portland cement, aluminous cement (ciment fondu), slag... | 900,256 | 1.8% | -3.2% | +4.6% |
| 2501 | Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 815,688 | 1.7% | +20.9% | +51.2% |
| 9401 | Seats (not those of heading no. 9402), whether or not... | 686,287 | 1.4% | -2.2% | +0.8% |
| 2517 | Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates... | 651,064 | 1.3% | -31.7% | +84.3% |
What went up, what went down
Biggest increases
Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary... (HS 7206) rose 294,000 tonnes from August 2026, the largest increase of any product, to 325,000 tonnes.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7206 | Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary... | 30,890 | 325,140 | +294,250 | +952.6% |
| 2501 | Salt (including table salt and denatured salt) | 674,653 | 815,688 | +141,034 | +20.9% |
| 4703 | Chemical wood pulp, soda or sulphate, other than... | 268,695 | 316,389 | +47,694 | +17.8% |
| 7304 | Steel tubes and pipes (no weld) | 231,489 | 275,879 | +44,390 | +19.2% |
Biggest decreases
The largest decrease was in crude petroleum (HS 2709), down 11.2% from August 2026.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2709 | Crude petroleum | 3,053,368 | 2,710,068 | -343,300 | -11.2% |
| 2517 | Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates... | 953,067 | 651,064 | -302,003 | -31.7% |
| 1701 | Cane or beet sugar | 396,435 | 160,074 | -236,360 | -59.6% |
| 2710 | Refined petroleum fuels | 1,707,228 | 1,554,072 | -153,156 | -9.0% |
Where did the United States' imports come from?
| Origin | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Aug 2026 | vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 10,807,696 | 22.1% | +4.8% | +19.5% |
| Canada | 4,107,181 | 8.4% | -20.2% | -2.7% |
| South Korea | 3,697,533 | 7.6% | -10.3% | +21.4% |
| Vietnam | 2,637,482 | 5.4% | -6.7% | +22.4% |
| Brazil | 2,112,806 | 4.3% | +32.1% | +55.7% |
| Mexico | 1,734,257 | 3.5% | -17.0% | -30.7% |
| India | 1,436,552 | 2.9% | -1.5% | +7.3% |
| Panama | 1,425,291 | 2.9% | +2.8% | +22.8% |
| Colombia | 1,064,323 | 2.2% | -18.8% | -11.7% |
| Taiwan | 1,042,242 | 2.1% | +47.0% | +38.3% |
Ports of entry
| Port | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Aug 2026 | vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, California | 5,883,080 | 12.0% | +3.3% | +22.3% |
| Long Beach, California | 5,751,899 | 11.8% | +9.9% | +38.2% |
| New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey | 5,135,421 | 10.5% | +2.4% | +2.0% |
| Houston, Texas | 3,884,016 | 7.9% | -9.9% | +8.7% |
| Savannah, Georgia | 3,086,760 | 6.3% | -9.1% | +14.4% |
Which shipping lines and carriers moved the most imports?
| # | Carrier | Weight (tonnes) | Share | vs Aug 2026 | vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY | 5,336,823 | 10.9% | -2.7% | +26.3% |
| 2 | COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT | 3,898,757 | 8.0% | -1.0% | +2.4% |
| 3 | MAERSK LINE | 3,457,623 | 7.1% | -11.5% | -2.3% |
| 4 | ONE OCEAN EXPRESS | 2,854,529 | 5.8% | -2.3% | +28.5% |
| 5 | HAPAG-LLOYD CONTAINER LINE | 2,640,864 | 5.4% | -5.5% | +2.8% |
| 6 | COSCO CONTAINER LINES AMERICAS | 1,878,120 | 3.8% | +9.7% | +22.8% |
| 7 | ZIM INTEGRATED SHIPPING SERVICES LTD | 1,803,756 | 3.7% | -18.1% | +18.8% |
| 8 | EVERGREEN LINE | 1,800,977 | 3.7% | +5.6% | +0.5% |
| 9 | STAR FREIGHT SOLUTIONS | 1,351,762 | 2.8% | -8.3% | +13.8% |
| 10 | CANADA STEAMSHIP LINES INC | 1,173,346 | 2.4% | -24.1% | -23.7% |
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 Aug 2026 | vs Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yantian → Long Beach, California | 847,098 | 1.7% | +6.3% | +62.9% |
| 2 | Ningbo → Los Angeles, California | 756,098 | 1.5% | +3.5% | +15.6% |
| 3 | Shanghai → Los Angeles, California | 731,174 | 1.5% | -4.4% | +23.3% |
| 4 | Yantian → Los Angeles, California | 659,806 | 1.4% | +20.8% | -0.8% |
| 5 | Shanghai → Long Beach, California | 613,980 | 1.3% | -1.3% | +1.0% |
| 6 | Ningbo → Long Beach, California | 596,282 | 1.2% | +22.2% | +78.0% |
| 7 | Busan → Long Beach, California | 455,514 | 0.9% | -5.2% | +23.3% |
| 8 | Gooch Island, BC → Seattle, Washington | 432,183 | 0.9% | -22.8% | +17.3% |
| 9 | Vung Tau → Los Angeles, California | 415,768 | 0.9% | +17.4% | +42.2% |
| 10 | Gulf of Mexico → Port Arthur, Texas | 413,395 | 0.8% | -34.5% | +5.7% |
Which imports grew and declined over the last three months?
Jul 2026 to Sep 2026 compared with Jul 2025 to Sep 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts and accessories | 1,464,468 | 3,176,933 | +1,712,465 | +116.9% |
| Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.c. in chapter 94 | 1,497,533 | 3,170,745 | +1,673,212 | +111.7% |
| Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates... | 955,269 | 2,556,637 | +1,601,368 | +167.6% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude petroleum | 22,134,362 | 8,265,609 | -13,868,754 | -62.7% |
| Air conditioning machines | 4,134,357 | 1,192,318 | -2,942,038 | -71.2% |
| Granite, porphyry, basalt, sandstone, other monumental... | 1,347,120 | 13,546 | -1,333,575 | -99.0% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 113,377 | 3,050,158 | +2,936,781 | >+999% |
| China | 29,672,657 | 31,875,863 | +2,203,206 | +7.4% |
| South Korea | 10,097,711 | 12,191,258 | +2,093,547 | +20.7% |
| Canada | 12,452,864 | 13,682,710 | +1,229,846 | +9.9% |
| Vietnam | 7,098,253 | 8,146,229 | +1,047,976 | +14.8% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 7,263,779 | 6,144,485 | -1,119,294 | -15.4% |
| Iraq | 1,044,883 | 0 | -1,044,882 | -100.0% |
| Germany | 3,703,954 | 2,986,787 | -717,167 | -19.4% |
| Belgium | 3,201,478 | 2,631,137 | -570,340 | -17.8% |
| Colombia | 4,077,851 | 3,580,478 | -497,374 | -12.2% |
Top importers in September 2026
162,120 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 72 iron and steel | |
| 8 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils |
12-month trend
| Month | Weight (tonnes) | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 2026 | 46,764,829 | 1,740,105 |
| Jun 2026 | 40,646,359 | 1,649,938 |
| Jul 2026 | 50,066,320 | 1,879,937 |
| Aug 2026 | 51,830,325 | 1,887,197 |
| Sep 2026 | 48,858,783 | 1,889,147 |
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 2601 (iron ores and concentrates) went from 314 tonnes to 90,600 tonnes. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- Electrical equipment (HS 85) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Knitted apparel (HS 61) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Woven apparel (HS 62) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Plastic packaging (HS 3923) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
United States import facts, September 2026
- The United States imported 48.9 million tonnes of goods in September 2026, down 5.7% from August 2026 and up 9.6% from September 2025.
- Crude petroleum (HS 2709) was the top product heading, at 2.71 million tonnes.
- Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary... (HS 7206) rose 294,000 tonnes from August 2026, the largest increase of any product, to 325,000 tonnes.
- The largest decrease was in crude petroleum (HS 2709), down 11.2% from August 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, September 2026: frequently asked questions
How much did the United States import in September 2026?
The United States imported 48.9 million tonnes in September 2026, down 5.7% from August 2026 and up 9.6% from September 2025, according to CargoFax customs records.
What does the United States import?
In September 2026, the United States' largest imports were crude petroleum (HS 2709, 2.71 million tonnes), mineral fuels and oils (chapter only) (HS 27, 2.14 million tonnes), and refined petroleum fuels (HS 2710, 1.55 million tonnes). The largest HS chapter was mineral fuels and oils, with 16.5% of the total.
Where does the United States import from?
The top countries of lading for the United States' imports in September 2026 were China (22.1%), Canada (8.4%), and South Korea (7.6%), by share of weight.
Are the United States' imports going up or down?
The United States' imports are rising. From July 2026 to September 2026, they totaled 151 million tonnes, up 4.9% from the same months last year. Year to date, the United States' imports are down 4.2% from the same period of 2025.
What are the United States' main ports of entry?
In September 2026, the United States' main points of entry were Los Angeles, California with 12.0%, Long Beach, California with 11.8%, and New York/Newark Area, Newark, New Jersey with 10.5% of imports.
Which shipping lines carry the most imports into the United States?
By weight, the largest carriers of the United States' imports in September 2026 were MSC MEDITTERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY with 10.9%, COMPAGNIE MARITIME D'AFFRETEMENT with 8.0%, and MAERSK LINE with 7.1%.
How many companies import into the United States?
162,120 distinct importers appear in the United States' customs records for September 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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