Container Ship Traffic to California Ports Drops 44% Amid Trade Turmoil

U.S.-China trade has sharply declined due to President Trump's tariffs and recession fears, leading to a dramatic drop in container vessel traffic to major California ports, with year-over-year arrivals down 44%. Global container booking volumes have plummeted, with U.S. imports from China falling 64% and significant declines in apparel and textiles. The shipping downturn is impacting both ports, which see falling fees, and producers, who face unsold inventories and the risk of bankruptcy unless a deal is reached. Scheduled shipping capacity on Asia-North America routes has decreased notably, with blank sailings surging in response to tariffs. While Transpacific shipping is highly disrupted, the trans-Atlantic trade remains stable due to a 90-day tariff pause negotiated with the European Union. These trends highlight the widespread impact of the trade war, as neither exporters nor importers are willing to absorb tariff costs, prompting calls for urgent trade negotiations.