Shipping Containers Market Report 2026

The shipping containers market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $12.09 billion in 2025 to $13.01 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of global trade and logistics, increasing international shipping activities, expansion of containerized cargo transport, rising investments in port and terminal infrastructure, adoption of standard dry and flat rack containers.

The shipping containers market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $17.31 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for refrigerated and temperature-sensitive transport, adoption of smart and connected container technologies, growth of e-commerce logistics, expansion of industrial and consumer goods transport, increasing need for sustainable and lightweight container materials. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of smart shipping container tracking systems, rising use of iot-enabled and connected containers, expansion of automated loading and unloading solutions, growing popularity of refrigerated and special-purpose containers, rising demand for high-strength, corrosion-resistant container materials.

The growth of the shipping containers market is projected to be significantly influenced by the rise of e-commerce. E-commerce, which encompasses the buying and selling of goods and services, as well as the transmission of money or data through electronic networks - primarily the Internet - relies on shipping containers for the efficient transportation and delivery of products globally. This process streamlines logistics and helps reduce costs. For example, in February 2024, the United States Census Bureau reported that estimated U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 reached $285.2 billion, reflecting a 0.8 percent increase (±1.1%) from the third quarter of 2023. Consequently, the growth in e-commerce is driving the expansion of the shipping containers market.

Key players in the shipping containers market are directing their focus towards developing cloud-based technologies to optimize tracking, inventory management, and logistics operations. Meratus, an Indonesia-based shipping company, exemplifies this trend with the launch of the SMARCO-Smart Container in March 2023. This cloud-based solution incorporates advanced IoT sensors, GPS tracking, and cloud technologies, offering businesses full visibility and control over shipping containers, thereby enhancing efficiency and safety.

In October 2024, CMA CGM, a shipping and logistics company based in France, announced its acquisition of Containerships for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to enhance CMA CGM's presence in the intra-European transportation market and is part of the company's broader strategy to expand its regional network. Containerships, which is headquartered in Finland, specializes in containerized trade within Europe.

Major companies operating in the shipping containers market report are A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, China International Marine Containers (Group) Co Ltd. (CIMC), COSCO SHIPPING Development Co Ltd., Triton International Limited, CXIC Group Containers Company Limited, Container Corporation of India Limited, Textainer Group Holdings Limited, Shanghai Universal Logistics Equipment Co Ltd., Maersk Container Industry A/S, THIELMANN Group, OEG Offshore Limited, Sea Box Inc., Hoover Container Solutions, Florens Container Services B.V., Cronos Containers Ltd., BSL Containers Ltd., CARU Containers B.V., Charleston Marine Containers Inc., Klinge Corporation, UES International Pty Ltd, TLS Offshore Containers International Pvt Ltd, SCHüTZ Container Systems Inc., Pacific Tycoon Limited, W&K Containers Inc., American Intermodal Container Manufacturing Inc. (AICM), Storstac Inc., TRS Containers, Rava Group Containers, Skelton Container Services Ltd., Global Container Solutions Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the shipping containers market in 2025. The regions covered in the shipping containers market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the shipping containers market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The shipping container market consists of sales of tunnel containers, open-side storage containers, general-purpose containers, insulated containers, half-height containers, and swap body containers. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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