The global tank container fleet reached 686,650 units worldwide on 1 January 2021, which represents a year-on-year growth of 5.26%, according to the ninth Annual Tank Container Fleet Survey by the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO).
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]The number of tank boxes produced last year was lower than in 2019, mainly due to the market uncertainty during 2020, caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic. This led to the production of 35,800 tank containers during 2020, compared to 54,650 in 2019, a decrease of some 18,850 units.
The survey, which can be downloaded from the ITCO website, shows how the industry continues to be dominated on a global level by a relatively small number of major tank container operators and leasing companies in terms of numbers.
ITCO noted that the top 10 operators account for over 55% (246,000 tank containers) of the global operators’ fleet of 443,100 units. Additionally, the top 10 leasing companies account for over 250,000 tank containers, about 80% of the total leasing fleet of 316,710. At the same time, the top three leasing companies account for nearly 159,000 units, which translates to over 50% of the total leasing company fleet.
Commenting on the results of the survey, the ITCO president, Reg Lee said, “While tank container production in 2020 was lower than the previous year, there have been clear signs in recent months of a recovery in orders – indicating an improved situation in 2021.”
“The figures in the survey confirm that the tank container industry is continuing to expand, with shippers appreciating the “Just in Time” concept allowing them to increase or decrease their product being shipped to meet the ever changing pattern of their customers’ requirement and greatly reducing the need and costs for large amounts of static storage at either end of the liquid supply chain,” he added.
ITCO continues to promote the benefits of the tank container and encourage education and training – especially with the use of the ITCO E-learning Course, according to Reg Lee, who pointed out, “With staff at many companies unable to go into their offices over the past year, the E-learning course has proved particularly valuable for Companies to give their staff who are working at home some relevant training in key aspects of the business.”
Over the past year, ITCO has undertaken an active campaign to promote the environmental benefits of tank containers. A video has been prepared explaining the problems of single-use plastics and encouraging the use of ISO tanks as a more sustainable mode of transport
“The new generation of professionals also want to see that the tank container industry is taking a serious approach to the environment and sustainability. They need to see that the industry operates, repairs, maintains and cleans its equipment in the correct way,” concluded the orginisation’s president.
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