Container Trading
Buy used shipping containers, new or one-trip units, or sell a fleet: we act as a direct counterparty for single units, fleet lots, regional inventory sales and portfolio disposals when a fleet ages out of marine service.
Dry 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube units are the bulk of what we trade; see the 40ft high cube container specifications for the most traded size. Reefers, open tops, flat racks and tanks move on request against a named depot and grade.
Who it is for
- Shipping lines and lessors adding to a fleet or disposing of one.
- NVOCCs and traders sourcing shipper-owned (SOC) boxes for a lane.
- Container owners clearing surplus stock at a depot.
Container grades: new, one-trip, cargo-worthy, WWT and as-is
New / one-trip
One laden voyage from the factory. Full CSC plate, factory paint, no repairs.
Buys it for: Fleet additions, conversions where finish matters, long-tenor leases.
Cargo-worthy
Structurally fit for international carriage. Meets CSC and TIR criteria on survey.
Buys it for: SOC shipments, one-way leases, export of goods in the box.
Wind and water tight
Sealed shell, sound floor, working doors. Not certified for sea carriage.
Buys it for: Storage, site offices and static use at project sites.
As-is
Sold uninspected. May need floor, door or panel repair.
Buys it for: Repair yards, conversions, scrap value.
Which grade do you need?
Three questions. The answer links to the equipment and a prefilled quote.
Answer all three to see the grade.
How we execute container trading
01
Understand the requirement
Size, grade, quantity, depot or delivery point, timing and whether a survey report is needed.
02
Assess the market
Availability and pricing at the depots that matter for the lane, across our supply and trade relationships.
03
Execute
Inspection where required, sale contract, release order and invoice. Units are released against the payment terms agreed in the contract.
04
Ongoing support
Utilisation planning while the boxes are in service, and disposal when they retire.
What you provide
- Quantity and size
- Grade: new or one-trip, cargo-worthy, wind and water tight, or as-is
- Pick-up depot or delivery location
- Timing
- Whether you need a survey report before release
What happens after the enquiry
A director confirms availability and an indicative price, arranges inspection where required, then issues the sale contract, release order and invoice.
Questions buyers ask
What do the grades mean?
New or one-trip units have made one laden voyage from the factory and carry a full CSC plate. Cargo-worthy units are structurally fit for international carriage and meet CSC and TIR criteria on survey. Wind and water tight units have a sealed shell, sound floor and working doors, and suit storage and static use. As-is units are sold uninspected for repair, conversion or scrap.
Are units surveyed before release?
Units are graded and inspected against IICL and cargo-worthy criteria. An independent surveyor can be arranged at cost when a buyer needs a third-party report before release.
Is there a minimum quantity?
No. Single units are sold for project and static use. Fleet lots are priced per lot, and portfolio disposals are structured per transaction.
Where are the boxes?
At partner depots in the markets we work across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. The enquiry reply names the depot.
What documents come with a purchase?
Sale contract, release order for the depot, the CSC plate details of each unit, and the invoice. Survey reports are attached where a survey was done.
Can Contrade buy a fleet from us?
Yes. Send the unit list with sizes, ages, grades and current depots and a director replies with an offer structure.
For a fleet approaching retirement, the note on where retired fleets earn most explains the disposal loop before you send the unit list.
Container types we trade
- 20′ DryISO 1CC · 6,058 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm
- 40′ DryISO 1AA · 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm
- 40′ HCISO 1AAA · 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm
- ReeferISO 1AAA (RE) · 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm
Drawn to one scale; the dashed outline inside each 40ft type is a 20ft box.
Other services
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Tell us the equipment, grade, quantity and lane.
A director replies within one working day with availability and an indicative price.
Photo: TrainLearnGrow, CC BY-SA 4.0
