Shipping Containers For Sale

Modern shipping containers are made of steal and are designed to facilitate the transport of industrial and commercial goods across oceans on cargo ships. In some countries such as the US, used shipping containers are also popular as affordable & convenient home or office storage units. If you’re looking to do any international trade, you’ll either need to own or rent a shipping container. For those who trade regularly, owning shipping containers is a necessity. However, there are certain things to keep in mind when purchasing shipping containers that can help you get the best deal and avoid getting ripped off.

Shipping Containers For Sale – Pricing

Due to the worldwide recession in 2009, there was a huge surplus in shipping containers around the world. China, the world’s largest manufacturer of shipping containers, stopped producing them due to lack of demand. This was a great time to purchase shipping containers, however, since that time, shipping container demand has gone up while new manufacturing has not kept up with the new demand.

Keep in mind that the primary factors determining shipping container pricing is age and condition. Condition is probably the more important factor, since it is more visible, and can be a bigger direct factor on a container’s usability. However, age is still a factor and you should be paying less for an older container. While determining the true age of a container can be more difficult than determining its condition, there are a few determining factors that can help you detect an old container.

For one, if a container has flat doors rather than conrrugated doors, it is likely fairly old, probably created in the mid 1990s. The most obvious way however, is simply to look at the CSC plate, which is a plate that is always found on the left hand door of shipping containers. Similar to a VIN number on your vehicle, this plate should list the container’s date of manufacture.

Used Shipping Containers For Sale

Finding used shipping containers for sale is an affordable way to purchase shipping containers. Thanks to their durability, shipping containers tend to last a long time, making them readily available for purchase second hand. However, during handling in ocean ports and warehouses they frequently become dinged and dented.

If you are looking for used shipping containers for sale sight unseen, you would be advised to request at least half a dozen pictures of the container from various angles. Often sellers will tell you a used shipping container is in good condition, but the end result you get is damaged. Ideally, you would want to purchase after performing a visual inspection on the shipping container, or be purchasing from a trusted source with whom you’ve already done business.

Here are some things you should look out for when looking for used shipping containers for sale

• Doors: Do the doors open and close easily? You should pay attention to the locks and hinges. Are the rods or handles that lock the container bend or damaged? This may make the container more difficult to open and close. Do the hinges swing freely? Some hinges may just require a little grease, while others may be damaged.
• Door Gaskets: Do the gaskets seal up tight?
• Roof: Are there any holes? Are there a lot of dings and dents? Obviously holes are a no-no. But dings and dents can be an eventual problem as well. Rainwater tends to collect in these, causing rust and eventually holes. It may take a year, it may take 5 years, but major dents will eventually turn into holes, which is something you will have to address.