NEW YORK, Aug 9 Reuters Retailers are fueling a summer rush of imports to the United States this year as companies guard against a potential strike by port workers and ongoing shipping disruptions from attacks in the Red Sea ahead of a shortened holiday shopping season.

Container imports and freight rates surged in July, signaling an earlier than usual peak season for an ocean shipping industry that handles about 80 of global trade.

July is expected to be the peak for U.S. retailers, which account for about half of that trade, and August is expected to be almost as robust, analysts said.

Companies that import toys, home goods and consumer electronics have brought forward holiday promotions to capture customers who are shopping earlier each season. Retailers don39;t want to be caught backfooted, said Jonathan Gold, the National Retail Federation39;s NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy.

Many shippers expedited holiday goods orders, with some putting Christmas items on the water as early as May, said Peter Sand, chief analyst at pricing platform Xeneta.

The influx is not a result of consumer spending, which has been tethered by stubborn inflation and high interest rates, experts said. Rather, it is a precaution against a potential U.S. port strike and the late Nov. 28 date for Thanksgiving this year, squeezing the peak shopping and delivery season running to Christmas Eve.

In July U.S. container imports registered the thirdhighest monthly volume on…