Container Fleet Global Market Report 2026

A container fleet, in the context of cargo logistics, is a fleet that utilizes containerization for the transportation of its cargo, employing larger-sized intermodal containers. Containerization involves the use of standardized containers to store and transport various items, akin to boxes or bottles.

The primary types of container fleets include dry containers, reefer containers, tank containers, special containers, and others. Dry containers are conventional shipping or cargo containers designed to transport dry, non-temperature-sensitive shipments. These containers find various applications in the transport of consumer goods, industrial materials, and food. They serve industries such as automotive, mining and minerals, oil and gas, chemicals, as well as food and agriculture, and are integral to the retail sector.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and container manufacturing components have impacted the container fleet market by increasing production costs and affecting global availability, especially in regions such as north america, europe, and asia-pacific. Segments like dry containers, reefer containers, and tank containers are most affected due to high reliance on imported raw materials. Positive impacts include promoting domestic manufacturing, encouraging local sourcing, and driving innovation in cost-effective and sustainable container solutions.

The container fleet market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides container fleet market statistics, including container fleet industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a container fleet market share, detailed container fleet market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the container fleet industry. This container fleet market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The container fleet market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $14.4 billion in 2025 to $15.45 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of global trade and containerized shipping, increasing import-export activities, adoption of standard dry containers for general cargo, expansion of refrigerated transport for perishable goods, rising demand for specialized containers for chemicals and industrial materials.

The container fleet market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $20.19 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for cold chain logistics, growth of e-commerce and last-mile delivery, expansion of industrial and food transport networks, adoption of smart container tracking technologies, rising need for sustainable and reusable container fleets. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of dry containers for logistics, increasing use of reefer containers for temperature-sensitive goods, growth in iso tank containers for liquid transport, expansion of special containers for heavy and oversized cargo, demand for advanced container tracking and fleet management.

Rapid industrial growth is expected to serve as a propellant for the expansion of the container fleet market in the near future. The industrial sector encompasses distinct categories or groups of businesses involved in similar economic activities or providing related goods and services. These industries extensively employ container fleets to optimize and streamline goods transportation, enhancing efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness by standardizing cargo units for seamless global shipping and logistics. For instance, in August 2023, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU), industrial production within the euro area and the EU increased by 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively, in June 2023 compared to May 2023. Therefore, the swift pace of industrial expansion is expected to propel growth within the container fleet market.

Major companies operating in the container fleet market are prioritizing technological advancements such as smart container trackers and solar-powered IoT fleet-intelligence systems to improve end-to-end visibility, maintain cold-chain integrity, support regulatory traceability, and optimize asset utilization. Smart container trackers are compact IoT devices that utilize integrated sensors and connectivity to track a container's location, condition, and security in real time. For example, in November 2024, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Limited, an Israel-based container liner company, expanded the global implementation of smart containers by deploying Hoopo's hoopoSense Solar trackers across its fleet. The solution includes an all-in-one, solar-assisted tracker with multi-year battery life, built-in door-open and shock sensors, and cellular or GNSS positioning, allowing permanent installation on containers and continuous transmission of event-driven and periodic data to a centralized fleet intelligence platform for real-time alerts, analytics, and customer integration.

In October 2025, ORBCOMM Inc, a US-based technology company, partnered with Evergreen Line to install ORBCOMM's smart container monitoring technology on Evergreen's dry container fleet. Through this collaboration, ORBCOMM seeks to expand its maritime IoT presence by improving supply chain visibility and container asset monitoring, while providing Evergreen with enhanced container tracking and operational efficiency. Evergreen Marine Corporation Ltd., a Taiwan-based shipping company specializing in global container transportation and logistics, is implementing smart-container solutions across its dry container fleet to increase asset visibility and optimize operational performance.

Major companies operating in the container fleet market report are Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Evergreen Marine Corporation S.A., Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., HYUNDAI Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company, CMA CGM S.A., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Westfal-Larsen Shipping A/S, Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft, A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S, China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), China Shipping Container Lines Co. Ltd., Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., Hamburg Sudamerikanische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft KG, Orient Overseas Container Line Limited, Wan Hai Lines Co. Ltd., Pacific International Lines Pte. Ltd., Sinotrans Limited, SITC International Holdings Co. Ltd., Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Arkas Container Transport S.A., NileDutch B.V., Seaco Global Limited, Textainer Group Holdings Limited, Matson Navigation Company Inc., Seaspan Corporation

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the container fleet market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the container fleet market are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the container fleet market are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The container fleet market includes revenue earned by entities by providing integrated fleet sizzling, leasing, distribution, and repositioning. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Container Fleet Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses container fleet market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

Reasons to Purchase

• Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 16 geographies.
• Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
• Identify growth segments for investment.
• Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
• Understand customers based on end user analysis.
• Benchmark performance against key competitors based on market share, innovation, and brand strength.
• Evaluate the total addressable market (TAM) and market attractiveness scoring to measure market potential.
• Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis
• Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
• All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for container fleet ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The container fleet market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Dry Container; Reefer Container; Tank Container; Special Container; Other Types
• 2) By Application: Consume Goods Transport; Industrial Transport; Food Transport
• 3) By End-User: Automotive; Mining And Minerals; Oil Gas And Chemicals; Food And Agriculture; Retails
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Dry Container: Standard Dry Container; High Cube Container; Open Top Container
• 2) By Reefer Container: Standard Reefer; High Cube Reefer; Multi-Temperature Reefer
• 3) By Tank Container: ISO Tank Container; Specialized Tank Containers
• 4) By Special Container: Flat Rack Container; Platform Container; Bulk Container
• 5) By Other Types: Ventilated Container; Pallet Wide Container
• Companies Mentioned: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.; Evergreen Marine Corporation S.A.; Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.; HYUNDAI Merchant Marine Co. Ltd.; China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company; CMA CGM S.A.; Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd.; Westfal-Larsen Shipping A/S; Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft; A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S; China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited; Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line); China Shipping Container Lines Co. Ltd.; Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation; ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.; Hamburg Sudamerikanische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft KG; Orient Overseas Container Line Limited; Wan Hai Lines Co. Ltd.; Pacific International Lines Pte. Ltd.; Sinotrans Limited; SITC International Holdings Co. Ltd.; Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines; Arkas Container Transport S.A.; NileDutch B.V.; Seaco Global Limited; Textainer Group Holdings Limited; Matson Navigation Company Inc.; Seaspan Corporation
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: Word, PDF or Interactive Report
• + Excel Dashboard
• Added Benefits
• Bi-Annual Data Update
• Customisation
• Expert Consultant Support

Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.