Tuesday, 16/09/2025, 10:55 (GMT +7)
1209
More Than 4 Out of Every 10 Containers Shipped Are Empty
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A new analysis from the Danish maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence has highlighted an alarming reality: the proportion of empty containers being shipped around the world is on the rise.
Experts at Sea-Intelligence calculated the ratio of empty containers to full containers based on TEU-miles and found that, at present, a staggering 41% of all global container shipping activity is dedicated to moving empty boxes.
In its latest weekly report, Sea-Intelligence explained: “The present situation is that for every 10 miles a full container is shipped, there is now a need to ship an empty container 4.1 miles – sharply up from ‘just’ 3.1 miles in 2019, before the pandemic market disruptions.” The report also pointed to a rising trend over the past five years, with only a slight, temporary dip in 2022.
The Root Cause: Trade Imbalances
Discussing the issue, Acumen Freight Solutions, a Karachi-based freight forwarder, noted in a recent post that trade flows are rarely balanced between countries.
Acumen explained: “Some regions export far more than they import, while others are primarily import-driven. This creates container imbalances where one port is overflowing with empties while another struggles with shortages. Ports in Asia often face container shortages due to high export volumes, while ports in North America and Europe may see surpluses as more imports arrive than exports leave.”
Source: Sea-Intelligence
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