An early seasonal surge in U.S. container import volume, driven by shippers racing to avoid higher fuel surcharges tied to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and new U.S. tariffs, is ending, according to research released on Friday. The Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates expects import volume at the nation’s major container ports to remain high this month before declining for the rest of 2026.