China exports to US ports peak early amid tariff threat

Chinese imports at US ports rose more than expected in June, suggesting that some retailers moved up orders to insulate themselves from an intensifying trade war that threatens to send up costs on a growing number of consumer products.

Retailers such as Walmart Inc and Amazon.com face uncertainty due to US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose more tariffs on Chinese goods, and the jump in imports from the country was likely because of “preemptive buying in anticipation of the tariffs,” said Ben Hackett, founder of international maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

“This is a bump that isn’t quite normal,” he said.

The US container port peak season is traditionally driven by orders for Chinese-made clothing, electronics and toys for the back-to-school season from June to September, and then the winter holiday season.

The volume of loaded shipping containers from China to all US ports was up 6.3 percent in June from a year earlier after falling 6.9 percent in May and 3.9 percent in April, said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest US container port and No.1 hub for ocean trade with China.

Seroka’s data was sourced from IHS Markit’s PIERS and analyzed by Port of Los Angeles staff.

Data about specific products and buyers was not available.

Retailers, who place orders for general merchandise up to a year in advance, can offset additional costs by raising prices or finding new suppliers in countries not subject to import levies.

On July 6, the US imposed 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, including flash drives, remote controls and thermostats, from a list of $50 billion worth of products first proposed in April. China quickly fired back with tariffs on an equal value of US goods, including soybeans, whiskey, cotton and automobiles. Those are unlikely to immediately affect retailers.

The Trump administration raised the stakes in the trade battle on Tuesday with a plan to add 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, including furniture, handbags, pet food, refrigerators, textiles and auto parts.

That new round could hit during the autumn lead-up to the Christmas and winter holidays. Many products purchased for that season will have arrived at ports well ahead of the imposition of the new levies.