Shipping Container Industry

The global shipping container market size is projected to reach USD 15.83 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to grow at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.0% from 2020 to 2028. This significant growth trajectory is primarily attributed to the rising volume of maritime trade, the rapid expansion of the e-commerce sector, advancements in digital technologies within the shipping container industry, and an increasing demand for specialized containers by defense departments across various countries.

Among the various container dimensions available in the market, the 20-foot and 40-foot containers were the most widely used as of 2021. However, shipping containers are also produced in a variety of other sizes, including 8-foot, 10-foot, 48-foot, 53-foot, and more, depending on specific application requirements. The growing utilization of these containers for the transportation of a wide range of goods—including food and beverages, pharmaceutical products, automotive parts, and agricultural commodities—is expected to play a critical role in supporting the ongoing expansion of the shipping container industry.

International trade agreements have a substantial influence on boosting trade activities between nations, which in turn increases the demand for shipping containers. A notable example is the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November 2020, which brought together the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and five key regional partners. This agreement represents one of the most extensive free trade pacts globally and is expected to stimulate international trade significantly. Additionally, several other recently concluded trade agreements—such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)—are projected to further drive the growth of the shipping container market by encouraging cross-border trade.

Technological advancements in commercial shipping vessels are also playing a vital role in propelling market growth. The development of more efficient and larger cargo ships, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies such as advanced navigation systems, sophisticated sensors, and automated components, is transforming the logistics and shipping industry. These innovations enhance cargo handling capabilities and improve operational efficiency, thereby increasing the demand for containerized shipping solutions.

Furthermore, the global e-commerce sector has witnessed a dramatic surge in recent years, driven by the rising use of smartphones and increased internet penetration—particularly in emerging economies. This ongoing digital revolution is expected to further bolster the growth of the e-commerce industry. As a result, the transportation and logistics industry is experiencing accelerated demand to keep pace with the increasing volume of online retail activity. Consequently, the need for reliable, scalable, and secure containerized shipping solutions has risen sharply, positively influencing the demand for shipping containers worldwide.

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Shipping Container Market Segments Highlights:

  • By product, ISO containers generated a revenue of USD 6.28 billion in 2020. Extensive adoption of ISO containers for international trade mainly accounted for a higher share of the ISO container product segment in the market
  • Reefer container segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 12.5% in terms of revenue from 2020 to 2028 owing to increasing demand for temperature-controlled transportation for shipping pharmaceutical, food, and agricultural products
  • Industrial transport led the application segment with a share of 56.6% by revenue in the global shipping containers market in 2020. Extensive use of shipping containers for transportation of industrial raw materials and manufactured goods such as metals, minerals, oil and gases, chemicals, ores, slags, machinery, tools, etc. attributed to the high share of the industrial transport segment in 2020
  • The Asia Pacific region dominated the market with more than 68.1% share of the global revenue in 2020. Presence of countries such as China and India having a large manufacturing base coupled with robust agricultural exports mainly contributed to the high share of Asia Pacific in the global market
  • The market is highly fragmented with the presence of large- and medium-sized international companies as well as small-sized domestic players

Shipping Container Market Report Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global shipping container market report based on product, type, size, flooring, application, and region:

Shipping Container Product Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2017 - 2028)

  • ISO Containers
  • Non-standardized Containers

Shipping Container Type Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2017 - 2028)

  • Dry Containers
  • Reefer Containers
  • Tank Containers
  • Others

Shipping Container Size Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2017 - 2028)

  • 20’ Containers
  • 40’ Containers
  • High Cube Containers
  • Others

Shipping Container Flooring Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2017 - 2028)

  • Wood
  • Bamboo
  • Metal
  • Vinyl
  • Others

Shipping Container Application Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2017 - 2028)

  • Consumer Goods Transport
  • Industrial Transport
  • Food Transport
  • Others

Shipping Container Regional Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Thousand, 2017 - 2028)

  • North America
    • US
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
  • Central & South America
    • Brazil
  • MEA
    • UAE

Key Shipping Container Company Insights

  • Bertschi AG
  • BNH Gas Tanks
  • Bulkhaul Limited
  • Danteco Industries BV
  • NewPort Tank
  • P. Moller - Maersk
  • China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd
  • COSCO SHIPPING Development Co., Ltd.
  • CXIC Group
  • Singamas Container Holdings Limited
  • TLS Offshore Containers/TLS Special Containers
  • W&K Containers, Inc.
  • Thurston Group Limited
  • OEG
  • Sea Box, Inc.
  • IWES LTD.
  • Norcomp Nordic AB

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