Why the U.S. Has So Many Used Containers: The Trade Imbalance Explained

Drive past a rail yard or port and you'll see stacks of containers, many of them empty. There are so many used containers in the U.S. that people turn them into homes, offices and storage. The reason is a simple imbalance in what the country buys and sells overseas.

Here's why the U.S. has so many used containers, how they end up for sale and what it means if you're buying. Many of the overseas shipping containers for sale you'll see began their working lives carrying goods across the Pacific or Atlantic.

The trade imbalance

The U.S. imports far more goods in containers than it exports. Containers arrive full of electronics, clothing, furniture and other goods, mostly from Asia. When they're unloaded, there's far less cargo to send back.

That leaves shipping lines and leasing companies with a choice for each empty container:

• Ship it back empty, which costs money and earns nothing
• Send it inland to pick up export cargo, where it's available
• Retire and sell it, especially if it's older

For older containers, selling is often the sensible option.

Why shipping empties back is expensive

Moving an empty container across an ocean still costs fuel, port fees and space on a ship that could carry full containers. When freight rates are low and containers are old, it's often cheaper to sell a container locally and use a newer one elsewhere.

How containers are retired

Containers typically work for around 10 to 15 years at sea. As they age:

• Repairs become more frequent
• They may no longer meet the standards for international shipping
• Newer containers replace them in the fleet

Retired containers are sold to dealers and depots, inspected, graded and sold for storage, shipping or conversions.

Where used containers end up

Used containers collect where imports arrive and where they're unloaded:

• Near major seaports on the West, East and Gulf coasts
• At inland rail hubs, where containers come off trains
• Near large distribution centers

That's why used container stock and prices vary by region.

New containers make one trip too

Most new containers are built overseas, largely in China. Rather than shipping them empty, they're usually loaded with export cargo for their first voyage. When they arrive and are unloaded, they're sold as "one-trip" containers. See new conex containers.

What changes the supply of used containers

• Busy global trade: shipping lines keep containers in service, so fewer are retired and used prices rise.
• Slow global trade: more containers are surplus, depots fill up and prices fall.
• Disruptions: events that strand containers in the wrong places can tighten supply suddenly.
• New container production: when new boxes are cheap and plentiful, older ones are retired sooner.

What it means for buyers

• Plenty of choice: the U.S. has a large supply of used containers, especially near ports and hubs.
• Good value: used containers cost far less than building equivalent storage.
• Prices move: used prices follow the shipping market, so they can rise and fall.
• Location matters: being near a port or rail hub usually means more stock and lower delivery costs.

Buying a used "overseas" container

Every used container has an overseas history. To choose a good one:

• Check the grade: cargo-worthy or wind and watertight
• Check the age on the CSC plate
• Check the roof, floor and doors
• Get photos of the actual unit and its unit number

See our guide to used conex containers for the grades.

Containers and the wider economy

Because container supply follows trade, used container prices can be a sign of what's happening in shipping. When imports surge, shipping lines need every box and used prices rise. When imports slow, containers pile up and prices fall. Buyers who aren't in a hurry sometimes watch for those slower periods.

FAQ

Why are there so many shipping containers in the U.S.?

Because the U.S. imports far more goods in containers than it exports, so many containers end up here with no cargo to carry back.

Why don't shipping companies send empty containers back?

Many do, but it costs money and earns nothing. Older containers are often cheaper to sell locally.

How long are containers used at sea?

Typically around 10 to 15 years before they're retired.

Are used containers from overseas safe for storage?

Yes, once inspected and graded. Choose a wind and watertight or cargo-worthy unit.

Will used container prices go down?

They rise and fall with the shipping market. When trade slows and depots fill up, prices tend to fall.

Where do most used containers in the U.S. come from?

From shipping lines and leasing companies retiring containers that arrived with imports, mostly through major coastal ports.

Do all used containers come from overseas?

Almost all containers in the U.S. have traveled internationally at some point, either as new one-trip units or during years of service at sea.