Lunar New Year Volumes Approach West Coast as Weather and Regulatory Pressures Disrupt Inland Logistics

Event summary

  • U.S. container import volumes totaled 2,318,722 TEUs in January 2026, down 6.8% year-over-year but slightly above the six-year average.
  • East and Gulf Coast ports increased their share of total imports to 40.8%, up from 39.3% in December 2025.
  • China-origin imports increased 9.3% from December 2025 but remain approximately 22% below 2025 levels.
  • Severe winter weather has created challenges for truckload transportation, with bottlenecks and major delays across inland terminals in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Memphis.
  • Oklahoma and Texas have issued numerous English-language proficiency (ELP) out-of-service violations, impacting domestic transportation capacity.

The big picture

ITS Logistics' February Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index highlights the return to seasonal Lunar New Year demand patterns amid weather and regulatory disruptions. The shift in import volumes towards East and Gulf Coast ports reflects broader trade route adjustments post-Red Sea reopening. Regulatory pressures, particularly around English-language proficiency, are reshaping domestic transportation capacity, adding complexity to an already weather-challenged logistics landscape.

What we're watching

Regulatory Headwinds
How evolving non-domiciled carrier regulations, particularly English-language proficiency checks, will affect domestic transportation capacity and compliance costs.
Weather Impacts
The pace at which severe winter weather continues to disrupt inland transportation and extend transit times, particularly in the Central and Eastern U.S.
Seasonal Demand
Whether the forecasted rebound in Lunar New Year volumes will offset the current declines and impact West Coast port operations through February.