Market & trading
A second-hand market
"Almost 90% of the container business consists of second-hand containers", NOBLE writes. Trading focuses on standard equipment – 20', 40' and 40' HC – plus dry freight specials and tanks.
Second-hand sales and purchases
According to NOBLE, it also supplies large lots worldwide.
Purpose-built containers
Storage and office containers, oversized or mini containers via manufacturer relationships.
Resale network
Retired containers reach buyers through a global network.
What that means: a container has a second life after the lease. Anyone valuing it therefore needs not just the lease rate but also its condition, CSC examination history and location.
The container is in the wrong place
Trade flows are unbalanced. Empty containers pile up where more arrives than leaves. NOBLE moves them out of such dead-end locations to where they are needed – including unusual locations – through its wholly owned subsidiary Global Container Repo Pte Ltd.
What that means: a container only earns when it is loaded. Positioning is therefore part of asset management, not just logistics.
Why there are no price series here
For container lease rates and second-hand prices we have no freely accessible primary source that we can cite with certainty. As long as that is the case, we publish no figures on them. Ask the asset manager for specific values.