Business Opportunities Weblog

Shipping Container Bizops

By on January 30, 2009 in Biz Ops

Barcelona Import
photo credit: papalars

Have you noticed the signs along the highway advertising cheaply-priced metal storage containers? Have you ever wondered what those are and where they came from?

Nearly every product imported into this country is transported via a ship in a metal shipping container. Once the ship arrives in port, the containers are removed from the ship via a large crane and transfered onto railroad cars and tractor trailers for transport into the interior areas of the country.

In the United States we have an overabundance of used shipping containers because of the economics of international trade:

1. We import more than we export.
2. It’s not very profitable to return the containers to their source country. In China, for instance, it costs $2,300 to manufacture a container. Shipping a container back from the United States to China costs over a thousand dollars. I need accurate numbers for returning a container to China. Anyone have some?

Containers
photo credit: bejnar.net

Opportunities

Luckily, for the entrepreneur, the large number of used shipping containers just sitting around makes for some interesting business opportunities. Used shipping containers can be used for storage, housing, offices and restaurants.

Further reading: The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger.

niche

Business Opportunities Weblog editor and publisher Dane Carlson lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, just 15 miles from Yosemite National Park. He accidentally became a professional blogger in 2001. He has added 12,203 posts to the site.

Another Idea: How to Start a Shipping Customs Consultant Business

  • http://wahm.business-opportunities.biz Angela

    The photo of the restaurant is priceless.

    My favorite use is when I hear about them being converted into homes. I’ve heard that they’re inexpensive and sturdy.

  • http://capforge.com Matt

    Am I missing something? If it costs $2300 to make one there and only $1000 to ship it back, wouldn’t companies in China be saving $1300 bringing back used ones from the US to send again? Or wouldn’t some kind of rental system make sense? There must be more to the story than these basic facts.

  • Jaclyn

    The picture of the restaurant is priceless i have to agree! the other picture of all of them just sitting around taking up so much room, rusting and i’m sure causing some kind of contamination into the ground water system is just plain sad though.

  • http://www.business-opportunities.biz Dane

    Matt, you’re right. There’s something wrong with the numbers. I’ve updated the post to reflect that.

    Thanks.

  • cassy

    I have seen a house that made of shipping container before and its really cool! You can’t really recognized that its made of container, the owner makes unique designs that makes the house more elegant and beautiful.

  • http://www.site-o-rific.com Site O Rific

    I’m in the process of building a container home. There is a great new book out called Container Architecture for those that are interested. There is also an interesting book called ‘The Box’ about the bizarre history of the shipping container.

    Miles

  • Ra mon

    I am from Malaysia. I want to purchase used 20′ and 40′ containers a lot. Anyone , please help me. Send me CIF price to Port Klang/ Malaysia
    My email > crosswiseent@gmail.com

  • John

    Ok. Let me dispell a few myths here.
    1) The shipping lines (companies that own and operate the ships) own the containers, or have them on long term lease.

    2) Containers are used and re-used by the shipping line’s customers, so no one is manufacturing them and discarding them. In addition, containers are a capital investment and therefore the cost is borne by the line over a period of years (basic amortization accounting here)

    3) It does not cost $1000 to ship an empty container back to China. The line will pay the cost to lift the container on the ship in the U.S., then discharge it on the other side. This usually amounts to about $500 altogether.

    4) These shipping lines are global in scope, so the container that has come here with goods from China does not necessarily return to China. It could be loaded with export goods moving just about anywhere in the world.

    5) And this is the most important point. The trade imbalance is getting smaller due to the recession. Many lines do not have the same problem with surplus empty containers in the US as they had in the past, simply because the economy has “tanked”.

    I have 20 years in the shipping industry with several major carriers. This knowledge comes from experience.

  • alex

    John, can you tell us where to buy used containers(20′ and 40′), and roughly what the cost should be to a “retail” consumer and why?

  • Don

    Dear Alex

    Thanks for the information on containers. Where would the best place be to start looking to a purchase container? Shipping co? port? ?? and what should i expect to pay for a storage container 10×20? I am on Vancouver Island.

  • brandon

    can any one tell me where i can buy containers. and what i am lookn to pay for used ones.

  • http://www.bereans-inc.info Jay

    I am a freight broker who deals with selling used cargo worthy, water/wind tight containers in 20′, 40′, 40′HC, 45′, and 45′HC sizes.

    If anyone is interested in purchasing these containers, please contact me and I’ll assist you. Note: I’m located in NJ, but I can provide services throughout US
    Thanks
    Jay

  • Nicholas

    Hi Jay,
    We might be interested in purchasing app. 50 containers.
    Please advise re your services & pricing.
    We are situated in Sth Australia.
    Regards,
    Nicholas

  • http://www.architectlink.com Architectlink

    Miles thanks for the book Container Architecture, I will check it out. Great thread.

  • G K chetty

    Hello Jay,
    I am interested in staring a container leasing business. I wish to start from small numbers to be rented out. could you tell me the min numbers the shipping companies will preffer to take on lease.
    thanks

  • http://www.ResidentialShippingContainerPrimer.com john simmis

    Building with containers is worth taking a look at if you are contemplating a new home.

    Good resource is the Residential Shipping Container Primer website. A DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) REFERENCE AND FOR CONVERTING RECYCLED INTERMODAL CARGO SHIPPING CONTAINERS INTO BUILDINGS AND ARCHITECTURE.

    Lots of example buildings, details, facts, and links to other articles. They have something new that you can setup your own project wiki to get help with your project if you are the design build sort…

  • http://no mohammed hyder

    hi im mohammed hyder i need business ideas plz sir contact me my number..+919705720528 im interested this business

  • zaid

    hi,im looking for 6×2.4m steel containers,im located in south africa and the nearest port is durban. I need 20 containers.