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State of U.S. Imports: Q3 2020

U.S. ocean import activity from July 2020 through September 2020, from U.S. Customs bill of lading records.

Sourced from U.S. Customs bill of lading data · Updated monthly · Data through August 2026

Key findings

  • U.S. ocean imports totaled 2,564,221 shipments in Q3 2020, up 10.4% versus Q2 2020.
  • The highest-volume import category was Other wooden furniture (HS 940360), with 20,895 shipments (+63.0% quarter-over-quarter).
  • The fastest-growing high-volume category was Other glassware of lead crystal (HS 701391), up 231.8% from the prior quarter to 7,871 shipments.
  • The steepest decline among high-volume categories was Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers, of a kind… (HS 481810), down 73.2% quarter-over-quarter.
  • CHINA was the largest origin country with 1,078,166 shipments — 42.0% of all U.S. ocean imports.
  • The busiest U.S. port of entry was LOS ANGELES, CA, receiving 601,898 shipments.
  • The largest importer by shipment count was IKEA SUPPLY AG, with 27,790 shipments.
Shipments
2,564,221
Containers
3,431,112
Quarter over quarter
+10.4%
vs Q2 2020
Year over year
N/A
not available — dataset begins Jan 2020

Monthly shipment volume

770,737
July 2020
912,198
August 2020
881,286
September 2020

Top import categories

Product (HS code)ShipmentsQoQ
Other wooden furniture94036020,895+63.0%
Parts of air conditioning machines, comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for changing the temperature and humidity, including those machines in which the humidity cannot be separately regulated84159018,275+80.2%
Furniture of plastics94037017,989+49.3%
Roofing tiles, chimney pots, cowls, chimney liners, architectural ornaments and other ceramic constructional goods, roofing tiles69051016,595+45.6%
Lavatory seats and covers39222015,817+7.9%
Not knitted or crocheted, of cotton63049215,000+97.2%
HS 94014094014014,679+87.0%
Any equipment, or any part of equipment, purchased for, or the repair parts or materials employed in, or the expense of repairs made in a foreign country with respect to, a LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) barge utilized as a cargo container, upon first arrival of such barge in any port of the United States98180014,213+22.4%
Other seats, with wooden frames, upholstered94016113,508+83.0%
Teleferics, chair lifts, ski draglines84286011,995+27.8%

Fastest growing

Product (HS code)ShipmentsQoQ
Other glassware of lead crystal7013917,871+231.8%
Personal weighing machines, including baby scales8423109,605+147.0%
Refrigerators, household type, other8418294,128+123.1%
Sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, waistcoats (vests) and similar articles, knitted or crocheted of wool6110114,876+105.1%
HS 9405209405204,496+99.3%

Steepest declines

Product (HS code)ShipmentsQoQ
Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers, of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width not exceeding 36 cm, or cut to size or shape, toilet paper4818104,638-73.2%
Safety or relief valves8481404,281-67.6%
Other footwear, other6402994,043-65.3%
Lifejackets and lifebelts6307205,732-53.1%
Dresses of cotton61044210,663-49.7%

Among categories with at least 1,000 shipments this quarter and 500 the prior quarter, across the 100 highest-volume HS codes.

Top origin countries

CountryShipmentsQoQ
CHINA1,078,166-2.8%
GERMANY133,852+21.8%
INDIA99,778+95.4%
ITALY91,825+31.3%
VIET NAM89,047+37.6%
REPUBLIC OF KOREA81,602+9.9%
TAIWAN75,732+4.0%
JAPAN67,456+11.0%
BELGIUM58,177+17.6%
HONG KONG48,605+11.5%

Busiest U.S. ports

Port of entryShipmentsQoQ
LOS ANGELES, CA601,898+76.3%
NEW YORK/NEWARK AREA, NEWARK, NJ453,533+31.5%
LONG BEACH, CA426,274+30.0%
SAVANNAH, GA138,849+32.2%
HOUSTON, TX128,627+23.4%
TACOMA, WA104,375+15.9%
CHARLESTON, SC103,740+16.1%
NORFOLK, VA94,060+29.5%
OAKLAND, CA79,410-83.8%
SEATTLE, WA74,550+17.8%

Largest importers

ImporterShipments
IKEA SUPPLY AG27,790
DOLE FRESH FRUIT COMPANY12,683
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC9,842
WALMART INC6,218
ROOMS TO GO5,413
LG ELECTRONICS USA5,076
WAL MART INC4,897
SCHAEFFLER GROUP USA INC4,222
AT HOME PROCUREMENT INC3,681
GOLDEN STATE FC LLC3,555

Largest suppliers

SupplierShipments
WANG ZHANG JIANG21,570
ZHANG LU9,791
JENNY7,761
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD7,694
LG ELECTRONICS INC6,896
THAI SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD4,997
UNION DE BANANEROS ECUATORIANOS S A3,810
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS DIGITAL APPLIAN2,755
NINGBO JOYSIMPORT&EXPORTCO LTD2,419
GIORGIO GORI WAREHOUSE2,353

Methodology & citation

Figures are counts of U.S. Customs bill of lading records for ocean freight arriving at U.S. ports between July 2020 and September 2020. Product categories are 6-digit Harmonized System subheadings. Quarter-over-quarter compares Q2 2020, year-over-year compares Q3 2019. Shipment counts are records, not TEU or customs value.

This report is free to cite with attribution: “ImportDoor, State of U.S. Imports: Q3 2020 — U.S. Customs bill of lading data”, linked to this page.

State of U.S. Imports: Q3 2020 — Trends, Top Products & Ports | ImportDoor