While worldwide demand increased, container shipments in the U.S. declined during November

Global Container Trade Surges as U.S. Imports Decline

An old adage suggests that commerce thrives where it is welcomed and remains where it is valued. This sentiment was especially evident in November, when President Donald Trump’s trade policies contributed to a 7.2% increase in worldwide container shipping demand compared to the previous year—everywhere except North America, which experienced a 3.9% drop in import volumes.

According to data from Global Trade Statistics (CTS), which tracks shipments at the point of departure, global container growth excluding North America reached 10.1%.

SONAR index illustrates the year-over-year decrease in U.S. container imports, comparing figures from November 2024 (blue line) to November 2025 (red line).

Sub-Saharan Africa led the world in import expansion, posting a remarkable 25.5% increase, while North America was the only region to register a decline, down 3.9%. This marked the eighth straight month of reduced imports year-over-year, mirroring the ongoing effects of the Trump administration’s tariffs and trade disputes.

Among major shipping lanes originating from Asia, Africa saw the highest growth at 34.2%, followed by the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East at 20.2%, and both Latin America and Europe at 15.5%.

Meanwhile, trans-Pacific shipments to North America dropped by 4.7%.

Read more articles by Stuart Chirls

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This article was originally published as While global demand grew, U.S. container traffic fell in November on FreightWaves.