Record demand for shipping containers in the US
In September 2024, American ports recorded a significant increase in container imports. According to analyst John McCown, the volume of imports at the ten largest ports rose by nearly 20% compared to the previous year. This growth reflects the strength of the American economy, with ports on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico outpacing their western counterparts. The most significant import port remains Los Angeles, followed by New York and New Jersey. Oakland recorded the fastest growth with a 38.4% increase in volume.
New fines for long-term container storage in ports
Starting Monday, September 25, 2024, new fines for long-term container storage will come into effect in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Carriers will pay $100 for each day a container remains at the terminal longer than allowed. This move aims to expedite container turnover and reduce port congestion that causes delays in supply chains.
Explosive growth of the container shipping market
The container shipping market is experiencing an explosion in 2024, with an estimated volume growth of 5-6%. Main routes and regional trades are growing faster than return paths. However, in 2025, a slowdown in shipping volume growth is expected as shipping routes return to normal operations. The growth in demand is accompanied by rapid growth in the supply of new ships, which brings challenges in maintaining a balance between supply and demand.
Transport through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea
In 2024, significant shifts in shipping routes occurred, leading to increased use of the route around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift has caused a rise in demand for ships and increased sailing speeds. Normal routes through the Suez Canal are expected to resume in 2025, which could reduce demand for ships and affect market balance.
Outlook for 2025
It is expected that in 2025, the balance between supply and demand will weaken compared to 2024. Although the first half of 2024 is strong, a weakening is anticipated in the second half of the year. The market could be weakened if normal shipping routes return and if economic conditions do not improve as expected.
Global economic conditions
According to the International Monetary Fund, the global economy is growing at 3.2%, and this growth is expected to continue into 2024 and 2025. However, growth in major economies such as the USA, China, Japan, and India is expected to be slower than in 2023. The European Union is the only one of the five largest economies expected to grow faster than in 2023.
Other container news...
What Is a Shipping Container? The Ultimate Definitive Guide
A shipping container is a standardized, reusable steel box engineered to transport goods safely across multiple modes of transportation — ship, rail, and truck — without ever unloading the cargo inside. Also known as an ISO container, intermodal container, freight container, cargo container, sea van, dry box, or conex box, the shipping container is the invisible backbone of the global economy. More than 90% of everything you buy — from the smartphone in your pocket to the coffee in your cup — spent at least part of its journey inside one of these rectangular steel boxes.
Used Shipping Container: Grades, Costs, Inspection & More
A used shipping container delivers the same structural steel integrity as a new unit at 30–50% lower cost. For most storage, farming, job-site, and budget conversion applications, the right used container — properly graded and inspected — provides equal functional value with meaningfully lower upfront investment. This guide covers every decision you’ll face: grades, pricing, inspection, delivery, lifespan, and the mistakes that cost buyers thousands.
40ft Open Side Container
A 40ft open side container is a specialized ISO shipping container in which one full 40-foot long wall is replaced with bi-fold or multi-panel doors that swing open to provide unobstructed access along the entire side of the unit. Unlike a standard shipping container — where the only way in is through the 7-foot-8-inch-wide double doors at one end — an open side container lets you reach every pallet, every piece of equipment, and every inch of stored cargo from the side, without ever having to dig through layers of inventory. The standard end doors remain intact, giving you two fundamentally different access modes in a single unit.
20 Foot shipping container
A 20 foot shipping container is the single most important unit of measurement in global trade. It is the backbone of intermodal logistics, the standard by which every container ship, port terminal, and freight rate is measured, and — increasingly — a building block for homes, offices, and creative architecture. Despite its ubiquity, most people who encounter a 20 foot shipping container know surprisingly little about what defines it, how it came to be, and what it can actually do.