The neutral online platform for container leasing and trading adds tank containers to its service offering through the acquisition, strengthening its position as the market leader. TankContainerFinders.com founders Léon de Bruin and Arthur van de Hoeven will leave the company.
Container xChange announced today it has acquired TankContainerFinder.com, the leading marketplace for tank container leasing and trading.
The acquisition, agreed for an undisclosed amount, adds substantial new members to Container xChange’s client roster, further cementing the company’s position as the leading neutral provider for shipping equipment.
Container xChange members can now buy, sell and lease every type of tank container and dry container in one location.
“TankContainerFinder.com generated more than USD$40 million since it was founded in 2017 and is at the forefront of digitalization in the growing tank container market,” said Dr. Johannes Schlingmeier, Founder of Container xChange. “Our customers have been asking for tank containers for a while and after a few conversations it was clear that joining forces with TankContainerFinder.com made a lot of sense.
“We’re thrilled to start capturing the huge synergy potential between our platforms. TankContainerFinder.com members can now access the Container xChange platform and collaborate with 800+ vetted shipping companies without transaction fees”.
The acquisition of TankContainerFinder.com by Container xChange Digitalization will bring more transparency to a highly fragmented tank container market, enabling small- and medium sized companies to remain competitive by simplifying operational transactions when buying, selling or leasing tank containers.
Getting the first tank container suppliers on the platform when we had no customers was a big challenge initially but having attracted hundreds of members over the course of the last five years makes us most proud,” said Léon de Bruin.
“After seeing the network grow and making our members wildly successful it is now time for us to move on. After a few conversations it was clear that Container xChange is the perfect partner and a great place for our members to keep growing their businesses in an expanding market”.
The tank container market is booming worldwide, expanding by 5.26% in 2020. It totaled 686,650 tank containers at 1 January 2021, according to the ITCO Global Tank Container Survey. More companies, especially in South-East Asia are turning to tank containers and operators are successfully converting certain cargoes to tanks.
“Container xChange is now in the perfect situation to bring transparency, trust and efficiency to the tank container market”, said Dr. Johannes Schlingmeier. “Our customers have been asking for tank containers for a while now and we’re looking forward to bringing transparency, trust and high transaction speed to the tank container market”.
