What is one way container? Benefits & how to lease them [+vs one trip]

One way container offers a reliable and flexible way to move your cargo. Read this blog to explore the benefits of one-way leasing in the current market and how it’s different from one-trip containers. 

One way leasing is a great option for moving your cargo from one place to another. Especially when COC rates are increasing due to port congestion and shortages of containers in the market. We’ll discuss more about this later in the blog.

For now, if you’re wondering where you can source one-way containers for your shipment quickly and easily, look no further than our container leasing marketplace. We’ve got over 100,000 containers available in 2,500 locations globally.

Use our public search below to find the best deals on a SOC (shipper-owned) container for a one-way shipment on your preferred route today. Or, connect with our experts to explore solutions for your container shortage challenges.

One way container meaning

A one-way container refers to leasing a container for a one-way trip. You lease the container by paying the usual freight charges to the container owner for transporting your cargo. At the same time, the container owner gets to move their container without incurring the costs of empty container repositioning. So, it’s a win-win situation for both parties! Let’s explore more about the benefits of one-way container leasing.

What are the benefits of one-way leasing? 

One way shipping container leasing helps you avoid demurrage and detention charges and leads to cost savings. It also helps in avoiding empty container repositioning. Let’s understand this in detail. 

Avoid demurrage and detention charges

Demurrage and detention (D&D) charges are the fees you pay to carriers for using their containers beyond the allotted free days. These costs can add up quickly, especially with current port congestion and delays in shipping. 

Avoid these charges by leasing Shipper-Owned containers (SOCs) one way. Leasing SOCs frees you from the liability of paying D&D charges to carriers, helping you manage costs more effectively. Get SOCs for one-way on Container xChange. 

Avoid empty container repositioning cost

By leasing one-way containers to move your goods, you can avoid empty container repositioning costs. On our container leasing marketplace, you’ll find owners ready to lease their containers for one-way trips. This allows you to get your goods to your desired destination without worrying about the return journey.

Cost savings

One-way containers offer significant cost savings for both lessors and owners. Lessors avoid paying hefty D&D charges and increased COC rates to carriers. Whereas, container owners benefit by getting paid to move containers that would otherwise be repositioned empty at their own expense.

Sustainability

Leasing SOCs promotes sustainability by reducing frequent repositioning of empty containers, thus lowering carbon emissions. This practice minimizes the environmental impact of shipping operations, contributing to more sustainable logistics.

Leasing SOCs for one-way moves offers many benefits for your business. Explore current offers and leasing rates on your preferred route on our leasing platform. 

How one-way container leasing can ease container shortages and congestion 

Let’s take the current shipping landscape, to understand how one-way container leasing can help mitigate the challenges caused by container shortages and congestion. Managing shipping costs is more critical than ever, especially with COC freight rates skyrocketing due to the Red Sea crisis. Longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope have caused congestion at key ports in Asia. Moreover, there is a reduction in overall available vessel capacity, further increasing the container shortage. 

All these factors are causing a sharp rise in freight rates. For instance, the average freight rate for a 40ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam increased to $8,056 per FEU in the first week of July 2024. 

In a market situation like this, leasing SOCs one-way offers cost-effective benefits for your business. By leasing SOCs over COCs, you can avoid paying D&D charges that have surged due to congestion and delays. Similarly, one-way container leasing can help container owners move their containers from a surplus location to a deficit one without incurring any charges. 

But how do you find trustworthy container leasing companies to get one way containers? Right here on the Container xChange leasing marketplace. Read on to learn more. 

Lease shipping containers for one way through the xChange marketplace

On the Container xChange leasing marketplace, you can connect with 1,700+ shipping companies and lease SOCs for one way moves. Get any container type under one platform with us in just a few steps.

• Log on to our online leasing marketplace
• Type in your preferred route and the container type you require
• Hit the search button and browse through all the leasing options
• Select a deal that suits your budget
• Interact and negotiate per diem and free days with vetted suppliers
• Make safe payments through the platform itself 

That’s it! It’s easy to find SOC containers for one way leasing through our platform. Click the banner below to lease shipping containers amidst shortage at reasonable rates!

One way container leasing rates on popular routes 

Knowing the container leasing rates on popular routes can help you choose the right deals and negotiate better. Here are the average leasing rates on popular routes.

• China to Europe: The average pick-up charge from Shanghai to Rotterdam for a 20ft container is $270 with 68 free days and a $3.5 per diem charge. 
• China to the US: The pickup charge for 40ft HC from Shanghai to New York is $1,330 with 82 free days and a per diem charge of $4. From Shanghai to Los Angeles, it’s $1,460 with 135 free days and a per diem charge of $5.5. 
• China to Canada: The pick-up charge for a 20ft container from Ningbo to Toronto is $1,230, with 70 free days and a per diem charge of $5. From Ningbo to Montreal, it’s $900 with a per diem charge of $5 and 70 free days.

Want to check out the leasing rates on your preferred route? Read our detailed blog on SOC containers to learn more. 

The leasing rates can fluctuate based on market conditions, especially in the current volatile market. Keep up with what’s happening in the shipping industry and how it affects container rates by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

What is the difference between one way container and one trip container?

A one-way container, also known as a cabotage container, is leased for a single journey from one location to another by the shipper. A one-trip shipping container, on the other hand, is a container condition, essentially, a brand-new container that has made only one trip from the factory to the destination port. 

Check out our detailed blog on one-trip shipping containers for more information. 

Lease one-way containers from vetted companies at best rates

Leasing one way containers is a great option, especially in the current shipping market where COC rates are spiking up and there is a shortage of available containers. 

On the Container xChange leasing marketplace, you can find vetted suppliers to lease SOCs from. Just select the container type and size you need, and you’ll get multiple offers to choose from within seconds. When you find something that suits you, reach out to the supplier directly to negotiate the rates, terms, and conditions.

We also understand that  it may be risky to make payments to new suppliers; that’s why we offer the xChange payment handling feature to our members. We monitor all payments, streamline your invoicing, and reduce coordination efforts to pay or get paid when dealing with several partners simultaneously.

Here are some other benefits you’ll enjoy as a member of xChange:

• Access 100,000+ containers in over 2,500 locations worldwide
• Work with 1,700+ vetted and pre-approved suppliers
• Compare multiple SOC offers in one place
• Get complete price transparency
• No hidden costs 
• Negotiate deals directly with partners—No middleman

Ready to lease one-way containers? Simply click the banner below to explore all offers on your preferred route today! 

One way container: Common FAQs

What is a one way container?

A one-way container is a leased container used for a single trip to transport cargo from one location to another, helping to balance container supply and reduce empty repositioning costs.

What is a 1-trip container?

A one-trip container is a brand-new container that has made only one trip from the factory to the destination port. These containers are essentially brand new.

What happens to empty shipping containers?

Usually, three things happen with empty containers. The empty shipping containers are loaded with a new batch of cargo and shipped from the port to their new destination. They are shipped to their new destination sans cargo due to empty shipping repositioning. Or, they get piled up at depots and ports, causing a global trade imbalance.