A Complete Guide To Understanding Shipping Container

A Shipping Container is a strong container for shipping, storing, and moving. It includes large steel boxes that can be used more than once and are used for intermodal shipping, as well as the standard corrugated boxes.

Shipping containers are essential in international trading, logistics, and shipping processes. In the last few decades, shipping has become the most crucial part of global trade. More than 90% of all goods traded worldwide are moved by ships. As global trading activities continue to grow, the demand for such containers is expected to increase further. 

Table Of Contents: 

• What Are The Different Types Of Shipping Containers?
•      Dry Van Container
•      Reefer Containers
•      Flat Rack Containers
•      Tank Containers
•      Open Top Containers
• What Is Shipping Container Home And Pros Of It?
• How Much Do Shipping Containers Cost?
• What Determines The Cost Of Shipping Container Prices?
• Difference Between Various Types Of Containers: Shipping Containers, Conex Boxes, Cargo Container
• What Is The Biggest Container Ship In India?

What Are The Different Types Of Shipping Containers?

There are many shipping containers, from dry van containers to containers that keep things cool. But which container works best for what you want to do? Let’s talk about these different containers and what they are used for.

Dry Van Container

Most people have heard of the dry van container, the type of shipping container. Most people who don't know much about carriage containers think of a dry van container when they think of transport containers.

Steel is used to make a dry van container, but aluminum has been used in the past (not often). These containers are used to ship dry cargo and goods, which are things that don't need to be cooled while being shipped and don't have any different sizes. The most common lengths for dry van containers are 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft.

Reefer Containers

After dry van containers, reefer containers are one of the most common international shipping containers. A reefer container, short for a "refrigerated container," has a cooling unit that keeps the food inside at a specific temperature. Along with the machinery, the container is also made to make the cooling unit work better. For example, almost every reefer has a "T-floor" that lets cool air flow "under" the cargo. This way, the cargo is cooled from all sides.

Most of the time, a generator set is used to power a reefer container when shipped internationally. A reefer needs a way to get power; these gensets use a diesel or hybrid engine. These gensets are "clipped" onto the side of the container or mounted under the chassis of a truck.

Flat Rack Containers

Think about having to move a freight truck or, even crazier, a whole yacht. The sizes of these goods are often so different that they can't be moved in a regular dry van container. The flat rack container was made for these kinds of goods. These containers only have side walls on two sides, so they can be used to move almost any type of cargo.

Tank Containers

Tank containers have a unique look, but most people don't think of them when they think of shipping containers. On the other hand, tank containers are the same size as dry van containers and of different types, and they are also used for international shipping and storage.

Tank containers need to be cleaned, checked, and given certification regularly. They usually get a label or certificate that tells them what kind of cargo can be kept in the containers. For example, liquids, (flammable) gases, and other things are transported in tank containers.

Open Top Containers

Last but not least, there are containers with open tops. Fewer people know about these shipping containers than reefers or flat racks. Open tops are just what their name says: they don't have a top. This means that cargo can be loaded through the top of the container and is sealed mainly by stretching a sail just over the edges.

What Is Shipping Container Home And Pros Of It?

A shipping container home is made of steel containers that ships use to carry goods. The most common sizes for these large, reusable intermodal containers are 10 ft, 20 ft, and 40 ft.

Transport container homes are an option for people who want to save money on building and upkeep costs. The container units can be used as homes on their own or with other containers to make a house with more than one level.

Here are some of the pros of Shipping Container Homes that you should think about before making a choice.

Pros of Shipping Container Homes

• Cost-effective: Shipping container homes are cheaper than traditional homes that need building materials and people to build them. Anyone can buy a container home for as little as $10,000.
• Prefabricated Shipping Container Homes: Many of them are made of modular units made in a factory and brought to the building site. This makes building easier and faster. Container building code inspections are also done at the factory, meaning quality building units are made.
• Modular Units: Several shipping containers can be put together to make a house. Each container can be thought of as a module. With modular construction, different sizes can be used, like 20-foot and 40-foot containers.
• Mobile Home Units: A shipping transportation service can be used to move a single-container house to a new location.
• Durable: Corten steel, which is what shipping containers are made of, is durable. These steels can fix themselves and protect cargo while moving across water. So, homes made out of these containers should be able to withstand all kinds of weather.
• Predictable Cost: When shipping container homes are made at the factory, the cost of making them is set. The only things that change the price are delivery, preparing the site, laying the foundation, putting it together, and hooking it up to utilities.

How Much Do Shipping Containers Cost?

A shipping container is the best way to get your goods from one place to another without risk. But it can also have some downsides. So, finding the best box price that won't hurt your wallet is important.

Shipping containers have changed how sea freight is moved and globalization since they were first made and then improved. Shipping on the water is often called the backbone of world trade. So much so that the sea is used for around 89.5 percent of all trade worldwide. More than 23 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) are being moved around the world by more than 6,145 active ships.

But sometimes, it's hard to figure out how much these containers cost. Even though a 20-foot container usually costs between US $1375 and US $6879.94, this price can vary significantly worldwide.

What Determines The Cost Of Shipping Container Prices?

As you’ve read above, the Shipping Container Price varies globally. There are a lot of things that go into the wide range of prices for containers. Keeping these in mind will help you find the right container at the right price.

Some of the factors are the location, the condition and age of the container, the cost of delivery, the size of the container, and any changes or customizations that are made. The price also changes based on the market conditions in the shipping industry.

Let's examine these factors that affect the container costs.

• Container price depends on geographical location

Prices for shipping containers can vary depending on how many containers are available in a particular place. Like the price of any other product, the price of a container depends on how many people want it.

It also depends on the region's economy and its current steel costs. Also, when figuring out how much your storage container will cost, keep in mind where your supplier is. The cost of delivering a container can be more than the cost of the container itself. We'll talk about the delivery fees in a moment. In this case, it's essential to know that supply and demand are not the only things that affect the price.

Geography plays a significant role, especially if a place is landlocked or has a port. A landlocked country has no easy way to get to the open sea. So, transport and transit costs are much higher than when containers are moved in a port. The idea is simple: the farther away a supplier has to go, the higher the prices will be.

• Container condition determines container price

Either a new or a used shipping container will work. A new or one-time-use container will cost more than a used one. On average, it will cost US $5,000 to buy a new 20ft container. A used one will be between $3,500 and $5,000. The price may change based on how good or bad the container is. The container’s age is also important. The more a container has been used and fixed over the years, the older it is. The cost of this container will be less.

Note: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a delay in the inventory of containers in 2020. Because of this, the price of a new container is higher. And it's even tougher to find used containers.

Also, if you want to buy a used container, ensure it is ISO-approved and carefully inspected.

• Cost of delivery impacts container price

As was already said, choosing the right supplier is an important part of figuring out how much a shipping container will cost. The supplier's location can affect the delivery rate (an add-on to the overall container price). Some providers charge more for hard-to-reach places that cost more to get to. So, the prices change based on how many containers are delivered and how long it takes to get to the place. The container will cost more the farther away you are from a port. Before you say yes, getting a quote for delivery is crucial. Or, look for someone whose prices are fixed.

• Container price varies with a container size

Well, this one is pretty clear! The price of a shipping container goes up as the box gets bigger. A standard 20ft container costs about 20–30% more than a 40ft container. Your first step should be to determine which container size is best for your needs. Usually, there are two standard sizes: 20ft (which is 20' x 8' x 8.5') and 40ft (which is 40' x 8' x 8.5'). But if there is a need, customization and changes can be made.

• Customization or modification adds up to the container price

Shipping containers are often made to fit specific needs and changed in other ways. This, too, has a significant effect on the prices of containers worldwide. Usually, spring and summer are the best times to build containers. Ask your supplier what problems they are having with supply and demand and when the best time is to buy from them.

Difference Between Various Types Of Containers: Shipping Containers, Conex Boxes, Cargo Container

If you want more storage space to clear out your home or office, there are a lot of names to choose from, like Conex box, ample box storage, self-store, shipping containers, and sea cans. Are all of them the same? What do these words mean? Don't be confused. Even though not all metal boxes are the same, they all give you a place to store things.

• Shipping Containers: 

A shipping container is a box made of Corten steel and built in a standard shape and size so that goods can be moved safely and securely by sea, rail, or road.

A CSC plate on a seaworthy container shows that it is safe to carry cargo. If you need to ship your furniture or goods by sea, you need a certified container that can go on the water. If you need a place to store your camping gear or equipment, you can use an old transport container, with or without changes, as a storage container.

• Conex Containers: 

The name "Conex" comes from the words "container" and "express." It is another name for a shipping container. The standard lengths for a Conex Container are 20 feet and 40 feet. There are also other sizes and high cube formats, but they are not as common. Because of its standard size, a Conex box and its contents can travel by sea, rail, or road.

• Cargo Shipping Containers: 

Cargo Shipping Container is yet another name for a Conex box. The word "cargo" comes from the shipping container used to move goods from one place to another.

Differences Between the Container Types

Conex boxes, cargo containers, shipping containers, and sea containers all refer to the same type of standard, rust-resistant Corten steel box mainly made in China and used to ship and move goods worldwide. Standard features of these boxes are that the corners are reinforced, and there are holes in the bottom for forklifts. If they are being used to transport goods now, they go through regular inspections and are certified as freight-worthy. A CSC plate shows this.

What Is The Biggest Container Ship In India?

APL Raffles is the Biggest Container Ship In India. This ship was built in 2013 and can hold 17292 TEUs and 176727 DWT. It is 397.88 meters long and 51 meters wide. This is about the size of three football fields.

This is a big step forward for Mundra Port. In 2021, Mundra Port became the biggest container port in India. Now, the largest container ship to visit India has docked at one of the port's terminals. The call of APL Raffles shows that the port can handle large container ships and that ACMTPL is essential to making trade between India and its most important trading partners grow.