Container leasing is on the rise and the leasing market is projected to reach US $7522 Million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period 2023-2028. Now is a good time to invest your money in leasing containers and make profits for your business. Read on to know the benefits of leasing, and how you can connect with top companies to lease units at competitive rates.
Container leasing is booming in the shipping industry right now. With the fast growth that the container leasing market has had over the years, about half of the global container fleet belongs to leasing companies.
Unfortunately, this means inflated rates and difficulties sourcing containers from reliable suppliers, especially at short notice. But don’t worry, we’ve got a solution for you.
On xChange, we’ve got 100,000+ containers available in over 2,500 locations worldwide. All of our members are vetted, so you’ll work with only pre-approved suppliers. Plus, there are no added commissions or hidden fees to worry about!
Check out leasing offers on our platform right now by searching for the containers you need below.
What is container leasing?
Container leasing is the process of acquiring containers from leasing companies on rent for a specific time frame in exchange for a predetermined payment. The payment is based on the leasing agreement you signed.
This agreement between you and the leasing company includes information on free days, per diem charges, the duration of the lease, and other important details.
On the xChange platform, to make the leasing process easier we have the BIMCO contract in place which all members sign when going through the process of leasing containers. This helps both parties to remain informed and on the same page.
It also eliminates the hassle of networking by yourself with multiple companies about contracts and terms. Simplify your leasing agreement process with BIMCO and choose a unit among 50,000+ boxes from 1,500+ vetted companies at top rates only on xChange.
Benefits of shipping container leasing
In recent times, one of the reasons the container leasing industry is seeing popularity and growth is due to one significant advantage of leasing – flexibility.
The flexibility of leasing containers for however long you need them can make it easier for you to do your job. You can increase your container fleet instantly by leasing extra containers (whenever needed) for a short period. All without showing up with a big lump of cash in hand.
Want to know how much it’ll exactly cost you if you lease a container? Our online leasing platform at Container xChange gives you a full overview of which locations you’ll have to pay the least and the most – and where you’ll get paid to move the container. Check out the platform in action while our team of experts answers all your queries!
The top 10 container leasing companies to look out for
Curious about the top ten container leasing companies globally? We’ve put together a list, in order of their TEU fleet capacity below:
| Rank | Container Leasing Companies | TEU Capacity |
| 1 | TRITON International | 7.1 million |
| 2 | Textainer Group | 4.4 million |
| 3 | Florens | 3.9 million |
| 4 | Seaco Global | 2.4 million |
| 5 | Beacon Intermodal | 1.8 million |
| 6 | CAI International | 1.5 million |
| 7 | Seacube Containers | 1.2 million |
| 8 | Touax Container Solutions | 393,064 |
| 9 | Blue Sky Intermodal | 300,000 |
| 10 | CARU Containers | – |
Become a member of Container xChange and interact with top leasing companies directly! Negotiate deals to pay exactly what you want to and not a cent more for your box today. Click on the banner below to see the marketplace in action.
Container leasing vs buying
If you’re still confused about whether to lease or buy containers, we’ve listed a few situations you might want to consider. This will help you determine your needs better and choose between leasing or buying.
| Lease containers | Buy containers |
| If you need containers but don’t have enough capital at hand | Your need for containers is for an indefinite period, you use them often and perhaps don’t need too many of them |
| When your requirements change, and you experience a temporary surge in demand for containers | You’re looking for containers for both storage and cargo transportation purposes |
| When you don’t know for sure, how your long-term demand will develop | When you’re in need of a few shipping containers for storage You require a container so you can modify or convert them into something else |
Whether you want to lease or buy a container, you can do either on our platform because we have both leasing and trading marketplaces. Explore our platform today.
Different types of shipping container leasing agreements
If you choose to lease a box, it’s essential to understand the different types of leasing agreements. This will help you pick the best fit for your business needs and also save money.
The four different container lease agreements are:
- Master lease
- Long-term lease
- Short-term lease
- One-way lease
| Master lease | Long-term lease | Short-term lease | One-way lease |
| Duration can vary | 5–8 years | Longer than 6 months | Duration can vary |
| Maintenance is done by the leasing company | Maintenance is done by the lessee | Maintenance is done by the lessee | Maintenance is done by the lessee |
| Drop off location is restricted | Drop off location very restricted | Drop off location very restricted | Drop off location at shipper’s desire |
One-way container leasing benefits and rates on Container xChange
The one-way leasing agreement is popular in usage. It provides container users with a lot of logistics and operational freedom. Plus, it helps them save a lot of money by avoiding container repositioning hassles. One-way leasing works by moving around or repositioning empty containers.
Simply speaking, a container user picks up the containers at the partner’s depot. The user moves the containers to another location and finally, returns them at a depot in a pre-agreed location. If you’re looking to save on your leasing expenses, one-way container leasing is a good option.
Now the shipping container leasing rates depend on the stretch you’re looking to lease, the type of container you’re leasing, the number of boxes you need, and the demand-supply trend in that region. And these leasing rates include the free days and per diem costs for the containers.
For example, for a standard 20ft box, the pick-up charges are US $114 on the China-North America stretch. But the rates rise to US $873 on the China-Russia stretch.
And for a 45 HC, the pickup charges for China to North America is US $262, and for the China to Western Europe stretch it’s US $501. You can see how these rates differ extensively based on the factors mentioned in the paragraph above.
But, with one-way container leasing, you can add a lot of operational flexibility by avoiding the repositioning of your containers. And save a lot of cash!
The good news is, on Container xChange you can find containers for one-way moves easily. Additionally, we also help you manage your lease agreement and other important documents digitally in one place, so we’ve got you covered there!
Storage container rental: Popular types, sizes and dimensions
Storage containers come in many shapes and sizes. It all depends on what you’re looking for and what you’re using it for. The 20ft and 40ft boxes are the most popular with the 40ft HC container not far behind. All of which are great storage options. Let’s look at what they have to offer:
20ft storage container
20ft containers are ideal for storage of dry cargo because they’re lightweight, compact, and easy to transport. They are also wind and water-tight, so your goods are stored safely.
40ft storage container
A 40ft container can fit up to double the load of a 20ft container, which means you get all the same benefits, but with extra storage space. So if you’re working with larger tools and equipment, this box might be the one for you.
40ft HC storage container
40ft High Cube (HC) containers are replicas of their 40ft siblings, but these boxes come with an extra height of 344 cubic feet. They’re ideal for storing over-height goods such as machinery, but can also be used to store lighter goods like furniture and clothing.
5 benefits of storage container rental
Buying a storage container might seem like a better option than leasing one. However, buying one may just cause you to face the risk of solving a temporary issue with a more permanent solution. There are many ways in which a storage container rental is beneficial. Let’s explore them below:
- Best for short term storage – It’s better to lease if you’re looking for temporary storage space that’s convenient without full commitment.
- Efficient – There are options to rent a storage space off-site, but by leasing a storage container, you can have access to your goods easily and efficiently. You’ll also save money on warehouse rent.
- Flexibility – Leasing gives you more leeway to change your mind because it’s short-term depending on the lease agreement.
- Tax benefits – Some renting options may offer tax benefits on leasing deals. In some cases, you’ll be able to deduct lease payments as operational expenses. However, it’s good to have a chat with your tax professional to understand this better.
- Low maintenance – If you choose to buy a storage container, it’s your responsibility to maintain the box, but with leasing, you can put those worries on the back burner. Your container rental company is responsible for the upkeep of your box.
So ultimately, storage container rental is ideally better for you if you’re seeking quick, temporary storage space. You can also look at portable storage container rental if your work involves constant shifting in locations:
Container leasing made easy with Container xChange
Ready for full market transparency and competitive negotiable rates with zero hidden fees? The our leasing marketplace is for you!
Say no to lengthy and time-consuming contract discussions and endless back-and-forth email threads. All transactions are done under one secure platform with one consolidated invoice on the xChange wallet.
So, you can skip the worry of multiple invoices and company regulations. Our experts are constantly up-to-date with the most recent market trends, so you can rest assured to find the best deals on our platform.
And after you lease your box, you can also monitor your containers in near real-time. And receive container status updates and tracking alerts – such as ETAsWhat is estimated time of arrival? Estimated time of arrival, commonly known as ETA, is a frequently used term globally to denote the time of coming. In the shipping & logistics industry, it is ... More, delays, container rollovers, and misuse warnings. We’ve got your back when it comes to container leasing.
When you join the Container xChange community, you’ll have a wider range of benefits that include:
- Container tracking and regular updates
- Safe and secure business transactions
- Manage all your container operations in one place
- Reduce manual workload
- Digitized invoicing and payment handling
- One-way leasing options
Join the revolutionary digital space and transform your logistics operations today. Click on the banner below to make your container leasing journey smooth and hassle-free — just how it’s supposed to be.
Container leasing FAQs
What is container leasing?
Container leasing is the process of acquiring containers from leasing companies on rent for a certain time frame in exchange for a predetermined payment. The payment is based on the leasing agreement you sign.
What are the different types of container leases?
The different types of container leases are master lease, long-term lease, short-term lease, and one-way lease.
Who is the world’s largest leasing company?
Currently Triton International is the world’s largest leasing company with a TEU capacity of 7.1 million.
