The monthly reports predicts August's import volume will rise 2.1 per cent year on year to 1.75 million TEU beating the record for imports set in March 2015 of 1.73 million TEU.
If correct, August figure would top a strong six-month period in which four out of six months will be the busiest months in the history of the Port Tracker report.
It predicts container volume will rise 4.9 per cent year on year to 19.7 million TEU.
"Retailers are selling more and that means they need to import more," said NRF vice president Jonathan Gold.
"With sales showing year-on-year increases almost every month for a long time now, retail supply chains are working hard to keep up," he said.
The report predicted the US will import 1.67 TEU in September, an increase of 4.7 per cent over the year before, and will import 1.72 million TEU in October, up three per cent from the same month in 2016.
November volume is expected to come in at 1.62 million TEU, down 1.4 per cent on the same month in 2016, and December volume is predicted to be 1.59 million TEU, up 1.5 per cent on the month last year.
If correct, August figure would top a strong six-month period in which four out of six months will be the busiest months in the history of the Port Tracker report.
It predicts container volume will rise 4.9 per cent year on year to 19.7 million TEU.
"Retailers are selling more and that means they need to import more," said NRF vice president Jonathan Gold.
"With sales showing year-on-year increases almost every month for a long time now, retail supply chains are working hard to keep up," he said.
The report predicted the US will import 1.67 TEU in September, an increase of 4.7 per cent over the year before, and will import 1.72 million TEU in October, up three per cent from the same month in 2016.
November volume is expected to come in at 1.62 million TEU, down 1.4 per cent on the same month in 2016, and December volume is predicted to be 1.59 million TEU, up 1.5 per cent on the month last year.