US Port executives issue a warning: the growth momentum of container imports in the US is about to reverse.

In April, container imports to the United States surged as businesses rushed to avoid Trump's tariffs, but executives at the two busiest ports in the country say that this trend seems to be reversing in May. Supply chain technology provider Descartes reported on Thursday that container imports in April increased by 9.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 2.4 million standard containers, the second-highest record for that month. However, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said that imports at the port are expected to decrease by 35% this week. The Port of Los Angeles is the largest seaport facility in the United States. Seroka added that due to weak demand, major shipping companies have cancelled scheduled voyages, and the volume of ship transportation in May may decrease by about 20%. Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, expects that freight volume in May will decrease by 20% compared to the same period last year. Descartes stated that the rapidly evolving trade policies of the United States, retaliatory measures from its trading partners, and the ongoing instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, all increase the risk of disruptions in the global supply chain.