Read the full brief here • October 2026
Every month, billions of dollars in pharmaceuticals, machinery, and aircraft move through O’Hare’s cargo terminals, making it one of the busiest trade gateways in the country. Through the first eight months of 2026, $277.9 billion in goods passed through the port. Exports grew 11% over the same period last year, even as imports dipped and a shifting tariff landscape reshaped the cost of doing business.
This update from the World Business Chicago Research Center tracks what’s driving those numbers: how tariff changes lined up with import swings, why a single category of chemical shipments accounts for most of the month-to-month movement in exports, and which trading partners carry the most weight for the region. It also flags what to watch as scheduled tariff increases take effect through year-end.