New Container Prices Soften

The price of new containers from the factories has dropped slightly during the last few days. It will take some time for this to filter through to the end user as stocks already purchased will need to be cleared.

This is a positive step for anyone looking for cheap containers for sale though as the next batches of new containers arriving later in the year should be at a better price. Whether this is just a temporary blip or a sign of things to come is anyone’s guess at the moment. There are many schools of thought but even the most respected analysts have failed to predict the recent peaks and troughs in the container and shipping industry.

Used container prices have yet to drop. If however there is a softening of demand for new equipment over a prolonged period this may well filter through to the second hand box and container conversion market. Current prices may seem very high to many for a shipping crate and in comparison with those 18 months ago it is hard to disagree. Rising material and labour costs coupled with basic supply and demand economics have seen freight container prices rocket. If new build orders decrease and the lines start to build rather than lease, as in the past, the situation will change very quickly.

A sure sign that the market is turning will be when depot stocks begin to increase as more containers are held in storage rather than in use by the lines.