40Ft Equipment News

Cheaper production and material costs as well as weaker demand has driven the price of new container equipment down to record lows and is forecast to fall  further during 2016, according to the latest edition of the Container Census report published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. The container equipment index price at the end of 2015 was $1,450 per CEU equivalent (or 20ft standard), down from $1,900 a year earlier. The average price for the year was $1,750, down 15% on 2014 and by the end of 2015 the index had fallen close to the all-time low of 2001-02. “Some of the recent price fall has resulted from the weakening state of the global economy and the decline in trade demand,” said Drewry’s lead analyst for container equipment Andrew Foxcroft.

Demand for 40ft high-cube containers continues to grow, creating stowage problems for ocean problems for carriers and entities requiring an accurate assessment of demand, according to Drewry. This week’s Container Insight Weekly from Drewry highlights the growing share of 40ft high-cube (9ft 6in high) containers in the global maritime container fleet and how the phenomenon is causing problems for carriers and forecasters alike. The popularity of 40ft HCs is easy to understand.