US Ports Brace for Lunar New Year Volumes Amid Inland Challenges
The ITS Logistics February freight index indicates that while January imports declined year-over-year, volumes remain above historical averages, with East and Gulf Coast ports gaining share. West Coast ports are expecting an influx of cargo related to the Lunar New Year, while inland transportation networks face ongoing pressure from weather and regulatory issues.
- The 2026 Lunar New Year begins on February 17, but factory shutdowns and shipping disruptions in Asia often start weeks earlier and can last until mid-March. This extended period typically causes a pre-holiday rush to ship goods, followed by a sharp drop in volume. - Severe winter weather is a significant factor in the inland disruptions, with forecasts of snow, ice, and freezing rain threatening to slow down trucking and rail operations across more than 30 states. These weather events can lead to road closures, power outages, and delays of 24-48 hours or more in key freight corridors. - A La Niña winter pattern is predicted for 2025-2026, which typically brings cooler, wetter conditions to the northern U.S. and warmer, drier weather across the South. This could result in heavier snow from the Rockies to the Great Lakes and potential flooding in the Pacific Northwest, further straining logistics networks. - Regulatory changes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are adding pressure to the trucking sector in 2026. These include stricter enforcement of the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and a transition to using only USDOT numbers for carrier identification. - While West Coast ports are bracing for the Lunar New Year surge, East and Gulf Coast ports saw their share of total U.S. imports rise to 40.8% in January, up from 39.3% in December. This shift is partly due to the reopening of Red Sea trade routes and increased imports from Europe and South America. - The less-than-truckload (LTL) market in the U.S. is estimated to reach approximately $118.68 billion in 2026, an increase from $114.03 billion in 2025, driven by e-commerce and omnichannel distribution needs. - January 2026 saw total U.S. container import volumes of 2.32 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a 6.8% decrease year-over-year but still slightly above the six-year average for the month. However, the National Retail Federation forecasts a 2% decline in import volume for the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
