Global pandemic-related supply chain disruptions have slowed U.S. retail container imports to single digits from double-digits, according to the Global Port Tracker from the National Retail Federation/Hackett Associates.

U.S. ports handled 2.19 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent (TEU) units in July, up 2 percent from June and 14.2 percent from June 2020. Ports have not reported August figures yet, but Global Port Tracker is projecting 2.27 million TEU for the month, up 7.8 percent year-over-year but down from the 2.37 million TEU it initially forecasted.

With two dozen ships waiting a week or more to unload at the Port of Long Beach/Los Angeles recently, some cargo anticipated last month may have been delayed into September. And with some sailings from Asia delayed by COVID-19 disruptions there, some cargo may arrive later in the fall than previously expected, Global Port Tracker estimates. August is typically the start of “peak season” when retailers begin stocking up on holiday merchandise.

During H1/21, U.S. TEU retail imports were up 35.6 percent y-o-y to 12.8 million. For the full year, retail container imports are on track to hit 25.9 million TEU to top last year’s record 22 million TEU.