Container

In trade shipping the 40-foot container is the best known and most important container of all. It measures 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.591 metres. Of this type of container, which is standardised as a "freight container" according to ISO 668, more than 15 million units are in circulation worldwide. Around two thirds of global goods traffic is carried by container ships.

Containers are the basis of globalisation

The containers are thus considered to be the basis of the globalisation of the economy, as they are used to handle most of the trade in finished products. Because of their standardised shape, containers can be transported and handled by a variety of means of transport, such as lorries, sea and inland waterway vessels or railways. Apart from 40-foot containers, 20-foot containers are also common. These measure 6.058 × 2.438 × 2.591 metres. This space in the Container is sufficient to hold about 10,000 jeans or 20,000 watches in their original packaging. An ordinary Container has an average lifespan of 12 to 13 years.

Steel containers have been produced in China for the most part in recent years

In recent years, the steel containers have mostly been manufactured in China. At peak times, the production volume was almost 3 million TEU per year, but freight volumes have been reduced considerably due to the financial crisis. Also Containers are produced for their respective transport purposes, for example special wooden containers, waste containers, containers for nuclear waste transports or also air freight containers.