Ex-Leasing vs. Ex-Shipping-Line Containers: Which Used Box Is Better?

Every used container had a previous life, usually with either a shipping line or a container leasing company. Buyers sometimes hear that one source is better than the other. The truth is more useful: each has typical traits, but the individual container matters most.

Here's how ex-lease and ex-shipping-line containers differ, what that means for condition, and how to choose a good one. Whichever source they come from, all our shipping containers used for sale are graded before delivery.

Who owns the world's containers

Containers are owned by two main groups:

• Shipping lines, which own part of the containers they use to carry customers' cargo
• Container leasing companies, which own large fleets and lease them to shipping lines, freight companies and others

A large share of the global fleet is leased, so many used containers you'll see for sale are ex-lease.

Ex-lease containers

When a lease ends, the container is returned to a depot and inspected against the leasing company's standards, often based on the IICL inspection criteria. Damage beyond normal wear is usually repaired at the lessee's cost before the container goes out again.

When an ex-lease container reaches the end of its working life, or is surplus in a region, it's sold.

Typical traits:

• Regular inspections throughout its life
• Repairs done to a consistent standard
• Often a leasing company logo, or a plain repainted finish
• Sold with a clear grade

Ex-shipping-line containers

Shipping lines use their own containers hard, moving them constantly between ports. They maintain them to keep them cargo-worthy, then retire them when they're older or no longer needed.

Typical traits:

• A long, busy working life
• Repairs done to keep the container in service
• The shipping line's logo and colors
• Sometimes more dents and cosmetic wear, but sound structure if graded cargo-worthy or wind and watertight

Does the source really matter?

Less than people think. A well-kept ex-shipping-line container can be in better shape than a neglected ex-lease one, and vice versa. Both are inspected and graded before sale. What matters is:

• The grade: cargo-worthy, wind and watertight or as-is
• The age: shown on the CSC plate
• The condition: especially the roof, floor, doors and frame

How to tell where a container came from

• The owner code: the first four letters of the unit number identify the owner, registered with the Bureau International des Containers (BIC)
• Logos and colors: shipping lines usually have distinctive branding
• Lease markings: some ex-lease units carry the leasing company's name or are repainted plainly

You don't need to know the source to buy well, but it can be interesting to know your container's history.

What to look at instead

Which is better for you?

• For storage: either source, in a wind and watertight grade.
• For shipping: either source, in a cargo-worthy grade with a survey if needed.
• For a tidy appearance: ask for a premium or recently repainted unit, often ex-lease.
• For the lowest price: an older unit from either source, after checking the roof and floor.

Buying with confidence

1. Ask for the grade in writing.
2. Get photos of the actual unit, including the CSC plate and unit number.
3. Check the roof, floor, doors and frame, in person or in photos.
4. Compare delivered prices for the same size and grade.

Questions to ask about a used container's history

• Who owned it before: a leasing company or a shipping line?
• When was it built, according to the CSC plate?
• Has it had any structural repairs, and where?
• Was it inspected and graded before sale, and by whom?
• Has it carried anything unusual, such as chemicals or food?

A seller won't always know every detail, but the age, grade and any repairs should be easy to confirm.

FAQ

Are ex-lease containers better than ex-shipping-line containers?

Not automatically. Ex-lease containers are often regularly inspected and repaired, but the condition of the individual container matters more than its source.

How do I know who owned my container?

The four-letter owner code at the start of the unit number identifies the owner company.

Do ex-lease containers cost more?

Not necessarily. Price depends on grade, age and condition, not just the source.

Why do used containers have logos on them?

They're left from the previous owner. Many buyers leave them; others paint over them.

Is a container with lots of repairs a bad buy?

Not if the repairs are welded steel and the structure is sound. Poor repairs with filler are the ones to avoid.

Do ex-lease containers come with paperwork?

Usually just the sale paperwork with the unit number and grade. Inspection histories generally stay with the leasing company.