US retailers have advanced orders from China by four to six weeks to secure inventories for holiday sales before expected tariff hikes later this year, reported Reuters.

Shipping executives said the move comes as Washington's universal 10 per cent tariff imposed in February is set to expire on July 24. The US Trade Representative has proposed a 12.5 per cent levy following an investigation into forced labour, which Beijing denies.

Tony Meng of XPD Global said importers are rushing to bring goods in before tariffs rise. Orders that usually peak in July-September were higher in May and June, lifting shipping prices. US imports from China grew 35 per cent in May, up from 11 per cent in April, and are expected to stay strong in June.

China's top exports to the US in May included smartphones, lithium-ion batteries, solid-state drives, toys and festival products. Shipping group Maersk said container space has tightened since mid-May due to stronger demand and earlier seasonal bookings.

Executives said back-to-school items and early Christmas stockpiling contributed to the surge, alongside World Cup-related orders such as jerseys, flags and TVs. Drewry data showed spot rates from Shanghai to New York at US$7,149 per 40-foot container on June 25, up 6 per cent on the week and 25 per cent on the year.

Outdoor furniture maker Jin Chaofeng said passing on higher shipping costs to customers would be difficult given thin margins. Kyle Henderson of Vizion warned tariffs still weigh on overall demand, which remains below the three-year average, and expects volumes to drop after July as inventories are already landed and costs rise.

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