U.S. seaborne containerized imports fell 8.4% year over year in September 2025 to 2.31 million TEUs, with shipments from China down 22.9%, according to a report published October 9, 2025. Analysts linked the decline to front‑loading earlier in the year ahead of tariff increases and to importers’ caution around policy uncertainty. China’s share of U.S. imports slipped to 33% in September from 34.5% in August. The report noted category‑level impacts including lower volumes of aluminum and certain machinery, while some Southeast Asian suppliers (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam) and India saw gains as sourcing diversified. Hackett Associates warned that holiday‑season volumes could dip below 2 million TEUs per month for the remainder of the year. The tariff schedule includes a 25% duty on items such as upholstered furniture, cabinets and vanities, with a broader China tariff hike delayed to November 10 unless postponed again. Despite the September pullback, year‑to‑date inbound volumes were up 1.9% versus 2024. The shifts in sourcing and the overall slowdown have implications for metals supply chains tied to imported finished and semi‑finished goods, as companies balance tariffs, costs and lead times into 2026 planning cycles.