From July 2025, China's used container market continued its downward trend, with prices persistently declining, reflecting the current weakness in global trade growth. As maritime shipping demand weakens, used container prices across all major Chinese ports and regions are showing cyclical decreases.
Market Price Trends
According to HYSUN's market research, prices for all container types have recently experienced widespread declines, with particularly notable drops for 40HC and 40GP containers: especially in Southern and Northern China, while other regions also show similar downward trends, with prices generally 5-8% lower compared to June.
Key Market Influencing Factors
The current market downturn is primarily driven by the following factors:
A.Contraction in global trade volumes, leading to reduced container turnover rates
B.Declining export orders in manufacturing, resulting in excess empty containers
C.Inventory buildup at major hub ports, exacerbating supply-demand imbalances
Additionally, recent uncertainties in international trade policies have further disrupted supply chains. However, most market participants have already optimized their procurement strategies in response to earlier tariff adjustments.
HYSUN Recommendations
Given that the downward trend may extend into Q4, we advise clients to:
A.Adopt a cautious approach to stockpiling to avoid mid-term inventory buildup
B.Prioritize on-demand procurement over long-term inventory commitments
C.Monitor regional price variations to identify optimal transaction timing
HYSUN will continue to monitor global container market dynamics.
HYSUN has an inventory of CW and new dry containers at main ports in China, as well as in North America, Europe and South Asia. For interested readers, please click the link below to view Hysun global inventory for Week 29.