Shipping container investment: How to make profits [Ultimate 2024 guide]

If you’re considering shipping container investment, this blog is your complete guide. Containers play a crucial role in world trade, with around 90% of all goods transported in one at some point on their journey. Read on to learn how you can invest in this hard asset to make profits and grow your business. 

Unlike many financial assets, tangible assets like shipping containers don’t go out of fashion, and are almost always in demand somewhere in the world. This is because they hold both material and functional value. So they’re always a good investment option. 

But how do you start investing in containers? In this blog, we’ll walk you through the various ways in which you can go about it. We’ll cover three main methods:

• Buying and selling
• Buying, repositioning and selling
• Leasing out containers

The first step? Buying the containers at the best price of course. 

Luckily, on Container xChange, you can find the containers you need at a price that suits your budget. We’re a neutral marketplace for trading and leasing, with over 50,000 containers available in 2,500+ locations around the world. 

Want to check out how the platform works right now? Simply input your location and the container type you’re interested in to browse available offers for container investment today.

Find containers online

Shipping container investment: Why start a container business?

In 2022 the global shipping container market was valued at US $14 billion. And it’s projected to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.68%, reaching over US $18.2 billion in value by the year 2027. 

If you’re looking for a container investment opportunity that allows you to strengthen and diversify your portfolio, equipment trading and leasing is a good way to go. Here you’re investing in markets that demand container services across a wide variety of industry channels. So investing in containers has serious potential for long-term success.

Need more reasons to invest in containers? Read on.

Tangible assets: Shipping containers are hard assets with functional and material value. This means that you’ll always be able to lease them out or sell them, granted they’re in decent condition.

Potential for steady income: Buying, selling and leasing out containers means a regular stream of income. Whether you choose to buy and then sell at a higher price, or lease out your equipment over months or years, you’ll make money on the containers you’ve invested in on a regular basis.

Constantly growing industry: The shipping industry currently accounts for 80% of world trade by volume and more than 70% by value. Investing in an asset integral to a growing industry is always a smart move, don’t you think?

In-demand asset: As we mentioned above, the shipping industry is growing, and it’s certainly not going anywhere. Containers will always be needed, so as long as the shipping industry exists, you’ll be able to make money from your containers.

Reusable: Containers are strong and sturdy reusable assets. They can last for up to 25 years, depending on how well they’re maintained. The potential return on investment is huge, especially if you’re planning on leasing out containers for a long time.

Want to start investing in shipping containers right away? With Container xChange, you can buy, sell and lease shipping containers at the best prices today.

Now that you know why investing in containers is a good idea, let’s take a look at the different ways you can use them to make a profit. 

How to invest in shipping containers?

There are three main avenues for turning profits with containers. Let’s learn more how to make money with shipping containers now.

Buy and sell containers

The first method involves purchasing containers at low prices and selling them at higher prices. So how do you do this? First things first, you need to buy containers. 

The easiest way to do this is through an online trading marketplace like Container xChange. Here you can browse and buy shipping containers in low-demand or surplus areas, at prices that suit your budget.

Next, keep an eye out for locations with container deficits (shortages), as this is where your containers will be in high demand. You can track price trends in 180+ locations on xChange Insights to make informed decisions about where to sell your units. We’ll learn more about this tool later on in the blog. Once you’ve found a high-demand area, sell your equipment at a profit.

Want a quick example? For just US $888, you can buy a cargo-worthy 20ft container in Chicago, USA. That’s a steal! Then, sell it in a high-demand location like Winnipeg, Canada for around US $2,655.

Here you’re making a profit of US $1,767 selling the exact same container! And this is for just one unit, imagine what you could make on multiple containers! Learn more about how you can profit from this method today. 

Conway Containers is an international container trader that uses Container xChange to trade and reposition equipment. Check out what they have to say about the platform below: 

“When it comes to new markets, especially, it has helped us a lot to have access to a platform like xChange. xChange is important for our business. The platform is also easy-to-use with a quick cash turnover. After the transaction, money is debited directly from our wallet account and that’s a huge advantage.”

Read more about how Conway uses xChange to make profits right now.

Buy, reposition, and sell containers

The second method also starts with purchasing containers at low prices in surplus areas. 

Next, lease out your containers in order to move them to a higher demand area. Make sure to use a safe and secure online marketplace for this, such as the xChange leasing platform. Here you can find shippers for your route, decide on the leasing rates that suit you, as well as negotiate all terms and conditions directly with the shipper.

Once the containers have been moved to a high-demand area, sell them again at a higher price, in order to make a profit. 

In general, these are some of the most popular stretches if you want to make money:

Let’s look at a quick example of the ‘buy, reposition and sell’ method now. You purchase a 20ft container in Nhava Sheva, India for US $987. After researching high-demand areas, you learn that containers are selling for raised prices in Shanghai, China. So you lease out your equipment from Nhava Sheva to Shanghai. The pick up charge is US $240. 

Once the container has been repositioned, you sell it at around US $1,162. Overall, you’re making about US $415 in profits. 

Container leasing investment: Lease out containers for one-way moves

For the container leasing investment method, you purchase shipping containers and then lease them out for one-way moves. 

Here, you’ll be buying up containers to form a fleet, and then leasing out this fleet to make money over months and even years. In order to profit using this method, you’ll need to make sure you’re leasing your equipment along popular stretches with high pick-up charges. Find more high-return stretches on the Container xChange platform today.

Orange CL, an NVOCC, has successfully leased out 7000+ containers over the last 2 years using the Container xChange leasing marketplace. Jack Sun, the co-owner of OCL, says:

“The leasing platform offers us far better opportunities and rates compared to if we did it ourselves or took the open market path. Also, we get a much wider reach, deal with only reliable partners, and transact with full security compared to other alternatives.”

Read more about how Orange containers uses the xChange leasing platform to find vetted partners and get the best container rates now. 

Now that you’re in the know about the three main ways you can use containers to turn a profit, it’s time to learn more about the benefits of using xChange for your container investments.

Benefits of investing in shipping containers on Container xChange

So you’ve got your container investment method in mind. Next on the list is to figure out where you’re going to do all of your business.

Container xChange has both leasing and trading platforms, so you can buy, sell and lease out containers in one convenient place. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy as a member:

Price transparency: An important requirement for regular trading and leasing is price transparency. On xChange, all prices and leasing rates are stated up front, in full. Finally, real-time market price visibility on a global level. 

Negotiable prices and 0% commission: We also charge 0% commission on all of our deals. Plus, prices and rates are completely negotiable. What’s more, deal directly with partners — no fuss, no middlemen.

Data-driven insights for the global market: If you want to invest in shipping containers for sale, you’ll need to keep tabs on market prices and trends. We’ve got the xChange Insights platform for this exact purpose. Read all about it in the next section.

100% online platform: Container xChange is completely online, so you can run all of your operations remotely. No physical infrastructure is needed to trad in over 2,500 locations around the world. Plus, you can find a network of shipping industry players to do business with anytime you need.

Safe payments: We know how important safe payments are. On our platform, all finances are managed via the xChange Wallet, which is 100% secure. 

With all of these benefits, you’re completely set to manage your container investment in one convenient place. Want to get started right away? Click below to learn how you can profit from buying, selling and leasing out shipping containers on xChange today. 

Make smart container investment decisions with xChange Insights

We know that staying on top of prices and industry trends is crucial for a successful container business. It’s time to dive a little deeper into how the xChange Insights tool can help you with this.

Insights allows you to access up-to-date price trends and industry news monthly, weekly and even daily. Here, you can browse container prices and leasing rates in over 180 locations around the world.

At last, say goodbye to hours of calling sources to get the latest market data. You can also access price trends from months and even years ago in order to study market patterns.

Use Insights to find the best time to buy and sell containers to make a profit, as well as the most-in demand areas for leasing shipping containers out.

Interested in trying out this useful tool to help you make smart and informed container investment choices every single time? Sign up for xChange Insights completely free today — no strings attached!

What you need to know before investing in shipping containers

Before you start your investment journey, there are some important things to take into account. So make sure you consider all of the below points before going for it.  

What are the best container types for investment?

Generally, standard containers are the most popular containers in the industry. So these should be your first choice when it comes to investing in shipping containers. This includes 20ft, 40ft and 40ft HC equipment, used to ship clothing, electronics and grains. 

Refrigerated or reefer containers are another viable option, as they’re extremely important for transporting temperature-sensitive goods and keeping the cold-chain intact. These containers are always in demand, and also fetch high prices, so you’ll turn a good profit.

Is it better to invest in new or used containers?

Next, you’ll need to decide between new and used equipment.

New, or ‘one-trip’ containers are usually in good condition, and you can easily confirm that nothing toxic has been transported in them. The downside? They’re considerably more expensive, so take this into account.

Used, or ‘cargo-worthy’ containers may be older, but they’re still certified safe for shipping. This means they’re structurally sound just like one-trip containers, only more budget-friendly. 

Curious about the price difference between new and used units? You can pick up a used 20ft container in the United States for US $1,090. On the other hand, a new 20ft will cost you around US $2,000. That’s a difference of US $910! The choice is yours. Find more prices for 20ft shipping containers right away. 

What is the current container market situation?

The container market fluctuates constantly, and is affected by factors such as micro and macro world affairs. 

It’s important to keep up-to-date with the market situation, as it can have a major impact on container prices. Want to receive shipping news, container prices and industry insights, all in one neat document? Download our monthly ‘Where are all the Containers?’ report for the latest in container logistics and business now.

Possible risks involved with investing in containers

As with any kind of investment, there are always risks involved. So, it’s better to be aware of them before diving in. When it comes to shipping containers, keep the following in mind: 

• Market risk: Prices are always changing, so there is the risk that over time, fluctuations could affect your return on investment. Especially if you sell at the wrong time.
• Maintenance, accidents and loss: Containers can get damaged and even lost at sea. This is why it’s important to have container insurance, so that you can recover your money when disasters happen. 
• Depreciation: Even though containers are an in-demand asset, they still depreciate over time. Especially if they get damaged or have undergone various repairs. This is something to keep in mind when buying shipping containers for investment purposes.
• Financial risk: Sometimes, untrustworthy lessees or buyers can default on payments, resulting in a financial losses for you and your business. 

These risks might sound alarming. But don’t worry, there are things you can do to minimize them. Let’s take a look at how xChange can help you with this in the next section.

How to safely invest in shipping containers

Risks are a part of any investment. However, with a safe online platform like Container xChange, you can minimize and even completely avoid some of them…Let’s learn how.

Vetted suppliers

When selling equipment or leasing it out for profit, you run the risk of unreliable partners going back on their word or defaulting on payments. The good news is that xChange vets and pre-approves every member with a full background check. 

So you can relax, knowing that any partner you work with will be reliable, trustworthy and professional. What’s more, you’ll have access to the most reputable names in the industry, right from the get go. Check out our company profiles to learn more.  

Secure payments 

Another worry is always ‘Are my transactions safe?’. With the xChange Wallet, the answer is ‘Yes’. With us, you have only one payment partner to deal with. All payments are credited in real-time, and you can check all credits and charges online in one place. Plus, our support team is available to assist you with any questions or issues you may have.

Transparent and data-driven

We’re a completely neutral and transparent platform. All prices are stated upfront, and we don’t take any commission on deals. So you can rest assured, the prices you decide on are the prices you’ll pay.

With xChange Insights, you can also make data-informed decisions when it comes to what to pay and charge for containers. 

Join Container xChange to buy, sell, and lease out containers to earn profits

Are you ready to get containers to buy, sell and/or lease out, all in one safe and convenient place? Then it’s time to become a member on xChange. It’s so easy to find the containers you need, quickly and easily with us. 

Simply navigate to the relevant marketplace (either trading or leasing), and input your requirements, or list your containers at a price you’re comfortable with. Plus, negotiate directly with partners to make any changes to offers.

Once you’ve finalized and signed a deal, all payments can be done safely and securely using the xChange Wallet. And you’re all set. 

So how do you get started? First things first, you’ll need to schedule your free demo with one of our helpful experts. They’ll give you a sneak peak of the platform, and answer any burning questions you may have. 

Want to learn all about how you can use xChange to invest in containers and make profits in no time at all? Click below to kickstart your container investment journey with us now.

Shipping container investment: Common FAQs

Are shipping containers a good investment?

You can make big profits buying shipping containers in low-demand areas, and selling them in high-demand areas. You can also make money leasing shipping containers out along popular stretches. The potential return on investment is especially high if you're planning on leasing out containers for a long time.

How much does a shipping container cost?

Shipping container cost depends on a variety of factors including the location, current market situation and container condition. For a cargo-worthy 20ft dry container in the US you’re looking at US $1,090 and for a 40ft dry container, US $1,850.

How long do shipping containers last?

One of the main benefits of investing in shipping containers is their long lifespan. If properly maintained, shipping containers can last for up to 25 years. To keep them in good condition, containers should be serviced regularly.

Is investing in containers profitable?

The profitability of investing in shipping containers depends on factors such as market demand and maintenance costs. You can make huge profits from containers buying them in low demand areas and selling them in high demand areas, or leasing them out for one-way moves.