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Containers spend 45 days stuck in depots, shortage continuesContainers spend 45 days stuck in depots, shortage continues

While shipping lines grapple with a shortage of containers large numbers of boxes are stuck in depots according to data from Container xChange.

Marcus Hand, Editor

December 3, 2020

1 Min Read
View of a containership at sea
Alexander Kliem - Pixabay

Container availability in China remains at record lows and at its extreme Container xChange’s container availability index shows that 40-foot High Cube availability in Shanghai is just 0.05 points, compared 0.63 points a year earlier. Any number lower than 0.5 points indicates a shortage of equipment.

Although a major issue is that containers are piled up in ports in the US and in short supply in load ports in China research by FraunhoferCML and Container xChange shows the shortage is being exacerbated by the lengthy periods empty boxes spend in depots. The research shows that on average containers spend 45 days empty in depots.

In China and the US the number of days empty containers spend in depots is considerably higher at 61 to 66 days.

By comparison for the Middle East the number is 21 days and Europe 23 days, showing that containers in China are US are spending an extra 40-days idle rather than earning money, and driving up the shortage of equipment.

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About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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