Bookings for ocean containers from China to the U.S. have drastically decreased in recent weeks, as the Trump administration’s latest round of tariffs are starting to affect international trade, as expected. Daily reservations on this vital trade route have fallen 25% from the same time last year, according to data from SONAR’s Container Atlas. The data suggests huge changes in trans-Pacific trade patterns.
The China-U.S. route is not the only one experiencing a decline.
Bookings for maritime containers have also significantly decreased globally, dropping over 18% between March 30th and April 8th. Bookings are currently 13% lower than they were in 2024, which is the opposite of the growth that year.
Daily ocean container reservations from China to the U.S. peaked on March 19th, but have since decreased by an incredible 31%, according to Container Atlas data. The steep reduction demonstrates how tariffs have an immediate and noticeable impact on trade flows and was predicted by many economists and trade experts in the weeks and months leading up to Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” announcement last week.
While they reevaluate their plans in light of the new round of tariffs, several importers have temporarily stopped incoming shipments. After all, importers have to calculate how these new costs will affect their bottom line and increase operating costs while decreasing margins. These pauses might only last a short while as businesses adjust to the shifting economic conditions. The consequences, however, might be more long-lasting for companies whose business plans significantly depend on certain products that are the focus of the Trump administration’s tariffs.
The picture painted by the available facts is complicated.
It’s too soon to tell what the long-term effects will be, but it’s evident that the tariffs have had an immediate and major impact on ocean container reservations, especially from China to the U.S. Industry watchers are trying to determine how much of the present decline is due to more permanent economic factors versus brief, planned pauses in imports as supply chain teams reorganize. With whipsawing Trump administration policy on the matter, markets are unsure how to react, which has added to the chaos. However, it may be claimed that the global supply chain will probably be affected by this drop in container reservations.
Ports and logistics companies may see a decline in business, and shipping lines may need to modify their capacity and routing plans. Markets may yet pick up steam as Trump outlines a clearer policy, or this may be the new normal.
Furthermore, as importers struggle with increased costs and possible supply disruptions, it is unclear how this would affect consumer prices and product availability in the U.S.
