Who Makes the World’s Containers? The "Big Three" Manufacturers 

If you walk through a port in Los Angeles, Rotterdam, or Mumbai, you will see thousands of colorful containers bearing famous names like Maersk, MSC, or Hapag-Lloyd.

But here is a secret: Those shipping lines didn't build those containers. They bought them.

Almost every shipping container in existence comes from a handful of massive factories located in one country: China. In fact, over 96% of the world's dry cargo containers are manufactured in China.

So, who is the giant behind the steel?

The Titan: CIMC (China International Marine Containers)

The undisputed king of container manufacturing is a company called CIMC.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, CIMC (China International Marine Containers Group) is the world’s largest manufacturer of shipping containers.

• Market Share: They control roughly 50% of the global market. That means for every two containers you see on a train or ship, one was likely built by CIMC.

• Scale: They produce millions of TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) every year.

• History: Founded in 1980 as a joint venture with the Danish company East Asiatic Company, they grew to dominate the industry by acquiring smaller rivals.

If you look closely at the door handle or the CSC plate of a container, you will often see the small "CIMC" logo stamped there.

The Challengers: DFIC and CXIC

While CIMC is the giant, they are not alone. The industry is actually an oligopoly (a market dominated by a small number of sellers) led by the "Big Three":

1. CIMC: ~50% market share.

2. DFIC (Dong Fang International Container): The second-largest player. They are a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping (the Chinese state-owned shipping giant), giving them a massive built-in customer base. They control roughly 20% of the market.

3. CXIC (CXIC Group Containers): The third-largest manufacturer, holding roughly 10-15% of the market.

Together, these three companies manufacture over 80% of all shipping containers on Earth.

Why Are They All in China?

It isn't just about cheap labor. It is about logistics. China is the "World's Factory." It exports more physical goods than any other nation.

• Efficiency: If you built containers in the USA or Europe, you would have to ship them empty to China to get them filled with goods. That is a waste of money.

• The "One-Way" Trip: By building them in China, manufacturers can sell them to shipping lines right next to the factories. The new container is loaded with its first cargo (iPads, clothes, furniture) and sent on its first paying voyage immediately. This is known in the industry as a "One Way Lease."

TEU vs. FEU Production

These manufacturers track their output in TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). However, in modern trade, the FEU (40ft Container) is more popular for consumer goods. Companies like CIMC have massive production lines that can switch between welding 20ft units and 40ft units depending on demand.

In 2021, during the global supply chain crisis, these manufacturers ramped up production to record highs producing over 7 million TEUs in a single year to try and unclog global ports.

Summary

Next time you see a container passing by, look past the shipping line logo painted on the side. That box was almost certainly born in a factory in China, likely built by CIMC, DFIC, or CXIC.

At TraceContainer.com, it doesn't matter who built it we can track it.