Shipping Container Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Size of Container (High Cube Container (40 feet), Small Container (20 feet) and Others), By Product Type (Dry Container, Refrigerated Container and Others), By Goods Transported (Machinery, Equipment & Electronics, Chemicals & Petrochemicals and Others), By Region, and Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Shipping Container Market, valued at USD 13.30 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 7.10% to reach USD 20.07 Billion by 2030. Shipping containers are standardized, reusable intermodal units essential for the efficient global transport, storage, and handling of diverse goods across various modes of transportation. The market's growth is primarily driven by expanding global trade volumes, significant growth in e-commerce, ongoing industrialization, and continuous development of port infrastructure and intermodal transport networks. According to Alphaliner, between June 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, the global container fleet grew by 10.6%.

However, a significant challenge impeding market expansion is the persistent issue of overcapacity within the global container fleet. This oversupply can lead to reduced freight rates and decreased profitability for carriers and leasing companies, potentially stifling new investment and innovation across the sector.

Key Market Drivers

Global trade expansion and interconnected economies serve as fundamental drivers for the shipping container market, directly influencing the volume and frequency of goods transported worldwide. As nations increasingly engage in international commerce, the demand for efficient and standardized shipping solutions escalates. This necessitates a robust fleet of containers to facilitate the movement of raw materials, intermediate goods, and finished products across continents. The sustained growth in global trade directly translates into a heightened requirement for container capacity to support complex supply chains. According to the International Monetary Fund, in July 2024, the World Economic Outlook Update projected global growth at 3.2% for 2024. This expansion underscores the continuous need for shipping containers to maintain global economic fluidity and support cross-border commerce, emphasizing their indispensable role in linking diverse markets.

The exponential growth of the e-commerce industry serves as another significant catalyst for the global shipping container market, reshaping logistics and driving demand for flexible, reliable container services. Online retail platforms have generated an immense increase in business-to-consumer shipments, necessitating efficient consolidation and distribution via port networks. This directly escalates demand for containerized freight. As an indicator of this trend, according to the U. S. Census Bureau News, in August 2024, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales 2nd Quarter 2024, advance estimates of U. S. retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2024 increased by 6.7% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Reflecting the broader industry's response, according to BIMCO, in September 2024, the Shipping Market Overview & Outlook, the containership fleet is projected to grow by 9.3% in 2024.

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Key Market Challenges

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the persistent overcapacity within the global container fleet. This oversupply directly leads to a reduction in freight rates, diminishing profitability for both shipping carriers and leasing companies. For example, according to BIMCO, in 2023, shipyards delivered 2.2 million TEU of new container ship capacity, which contributed to an 8% increase in the global container fleet. This substantial influx of new vessels outpaces demand, creating an imbalance in the market. BIMCO further forecasts a 10% growth in fleet capacity for 2024, whereas the increase in container volumes is projected to raise demand for ship capacity by only 3-4%. Such a widening gap between available capacity and market demand intensifies competition, exerts downward pressure on pricing, and consequently decreases financial returns for industry participants. This economic pressure can deter new capital expenditure and limit innovation across the sector, directly hampering its overall growth prospects.

Key Market Trends

Enhanced digitalization and tracking technologies are profoundly transforming operational efficiency and supply chain visibility within the global shipping container market. The integration of advanced tracking systems, IoT sensors, and digital platforms provides real-time data on container location, condition, and security. This enhanced transparency allows for optimized logistics, proactive issue resolution, and improved inventory management. According to the Digital Container Shipping Association’s "State of the Industry Report 2024," electronic Bill of Lading adoption reached 5% in 2024, a notable increase from 1.2% in 2021, reflecting a growing industry commitment to digital standards and operational efficiency. These advancements streamline documentation and foster greater interoperability across the complex global supply chain.

The global shipping container market is increasingly prioritizing sustainable and green container designs, driven by environmental regulations and corporate sustainability objectives. This trend includes the development of containers using eco-friendly materials and innovations in design to minimize environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. A. P. Moller – Maersk, a leading container shipping company, placed an order in June 2023 for six mid-sized container vessels capable of operating on green methanol, with each vessel holding approximately 9,000 twenty-foot equivalent units. These vessels are projected to reduce approximately 450,000 tons of CO2e emissions per year, demonstrating concrete industry steps towards decarbonization and influencing investment decisions for lower lifecycle emissions.

Segmental Insights

In the Global Shipping Container Market, the Machinery segment is experiencing rapid growth, primarily driven by the escalating global demand for heavy equipment and industrial products. This surge necessitates specialized container solutions, such as high cube and flat rack containers, adept at accommodating bulky and often oversized machinery. The expansion of manufacturing sectors and ongoing infrastructure development across various regions significantly contribute to this growth, creating a persistent need for the international movement of diverse machinery types. These factors underscore machinery's substantial impact on market dynamics.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the global shipping container market due to its robust manufacturing base in economies like China, Japan, and South Korea, which generates substantial export volumes. The region experiences flourishing international and intra-regional trade, bolstered by numerous trade agreements. Its strategic geographical positioning and extensive investments in world-class port infrastructure facilitate efficient containerized cargo movement. This is further supported by strong regional ship and container manufacturing capabilities and the adoption of advanced port automation, reinforcing its market leadership.

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, a significant restructuring commenced in the global shipping container market with the formation of the Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. This partnership, which replaces the former 2M alliance, brings together two major shipping lines to optimize global maritime logistics. The Gemini Cooperation plans to integrate 290 vessels and offer approximately 26 mainline services, emphasizing reliability across key East-West trade lanes, including Transatlantic, Asia-Europe, and Middle East routes. This collaboration is set to redefine global shipping operations by enhancing efficiency and service reliability for customers.

• In February 2025, Evergreen Marine Corp. announced a substantial investment of up to US$3.25 billion to expand its fleet with eleven new mega-size liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel container ships. The Taiwanese carrier commissioned South Korea's Hanwha Ocean to build six vessels and China's Guangzhou Shipyard International to construct five. These 24,000 TEU vessels are designed with advanced eco-friendly technologies, including LNG dual-fuel propulsion engines, aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. This strategic move highlights Evergreen Marine's commitment to modernizing its fleet and embracing sustainable shipping practices in the global container market.

• In October 2024, Compact Container Systems (CCS) unveiled the SeaFold HC 40', an innovative five-in-one foldable shipping container that has received ISO certification. This new product aims to address operational inefficiencies within the transportation and logistics sectors by significantly reducing unnecessary container movements. The SeaFold 40' has the potential to decrease the cost of repositioning empty containers by 56%, cut storage space by 80%, and lower carbon emissions by up to 70%. Its design allows five folded containers to occupy the space of one standard 40' HC container, representing a notable breakthrough.

• In the first quarter of 2024, A.P. Moller – Maersk introduced the initial vessels in a series of eight large ocean-going container ships designed to operate on carbon-neutral methanol. These 16,000 TEU capacity vessels, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, marked a significant advancement in the global shipping container market's decarbonization efforts. The dual-fuel engine setup allows operation on methanol or conventional low-sulfur fuel, with an option for four additional vessels in 2025. This initiative underscores Maersk’s commitment to providing sustainable transport solutions and reducing annual CO2 emissions by approximately one million tonnes.

Key Market Players

• China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd
• A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S
• Singamas Container Holdings Limited
• CXIC Group Containers Company Limited
• Textainer Group Holdings Limited
• SEA BOX, Inc.
• Triton International Limited
• W&K Containers, Inc.
• CMA CGM Group
• CARU Group B.V.

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Shipping Container Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Shipping Container Market, By Size of Container:

o   High Cube Container (40 feet)

o   Small Container (20 feet)

o   Others

• Shipping Container Market, By Product Type:

o   Dry Container

o   Refrigerated Container

o   Others

• Shipping Container Market, By Goods Transported:

o   Machinery

o   Equipment & Electronics

o   Chemicals & Petrochemicals

o   Others

• Shipping Container Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Shipping Container Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Shipping Container Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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