Written by Marijn Overvest | Reviewed by Sjoerd Goedhart | Fact Checked by Ruud Emonds | Our editorial policy

The Plightof the Shipping Containers

In the past, shipping containers are valued at around $2,000. Today, the price for a 40-foot shipping container has gone up to $9,000. CNBC reported that the cost of goods transported from Asia to the West Coast of America has increased by 145%. It also doesn’t help that China, the world’s leading producer of goods, is now on the road to economic recovery, thus there is now a growing increase for products rather than services. 

This will ultimately lead to an imbalance of global trade since shipping containers are now more expensive but are only available in fewer numbers.

Around 170 million shipping containers were used to transport 90% of the world’s goods before the global pandemic. Today, COVID 19 has left global shipping lines with backlogs and delays due to labor shortages, coupled with reduced capacity in logistic systems, together with port congestion and quarantined cargo.

What Is the Solution?

In response to the container crisis and the disruptions experienced between 2020 and 2022, many companies have increasingly turned to digital procurement and trading platforms as a way to improve resilience and visibility within their supply chains. These platforms enable closer collaboration between buyers and suppliers, facilitate supplier diversification, and support the identification of geographically closer or regional partners, thereby reducing dependency on long-distance global shipping and exposure to volatile freight rates.

IT procurement solutions do not eliminate physical transportation constraints; however, they significantly enhance decision-making by providing real-time data, demand forecasting, supplier performance analytics, and scenario planning capabilities. In the context of the container crisis, such tools have proven essential for managing sourcing risks, renegotiating contracts, and adjusting procurement strategies under rapidly changing market conditions.

Despite these advantages, adoption remains uneven. Large and established trading companies continue to rely heavily on traditional logistics networks and long-standing transportation practices, partly due to high switching costs, contractual obligations, and the complexity of global trade operations. As a result, digital procurement platforms are best understood not as a replacement for physical logistics but as a complementary solution that increases supply chain agility and preparedness for future disruptions.

Ultimately, the container crisis highlighted that while external factors such as pandemic control and vaccination efforts influence global trade recovery, long-term resilience depends on structural improvements in procurement, logistics planning, and the strategic use of digital technologies.

The Container Crisis Now

The container crisis has eased significantly compared to its peak between 2020 and 2022, with global freight rates and shipping capacity showing signs of stabilization. Port congestion has declined, and the availability of containers has improved as shipping lines expanded fleets and adjusted schedules.

Nevertheless, transportation costs remain above pre-pandemic levels, indicating that the market has not fully returned to its former equilibrium. Structural issues such as lingering imbalances between supply and demand persist, especially on key trade routes, keeping operators and procurement managers cautious about future volatility.

Despite this relative stabilization, global supply chains remain exposed to multiple sources of risk that continue to shape container markets. Geopolitical tensions, labor shortages in key logistics hubs, and climate-related disruptions still affect shipping reliability and lead times, while container imbalances and tariff uncertainty create localized shortages and planning challenges.

Moreover, forecasts suggest that the supply-demand balance may weaken further in 2026 as new vessel capacity enters the market faster than trade volumes grow, potentially putting downward pressure on freight rates and carrier profitability. At the same time, a gradual return of vessels through traditional routes such as the Red Sea and Suez Canal could release additional capacity, contributing to structural overcapacity in certain segments.

Looking ahead to 2026, industry analysts expect mixed conditions rather than a full recovery from recent disruptions. Trade growth is forecast to slow as the effects of inventory front-loading fade and macroeconomic uncertainty persists, but demand is still likely to remain sufficient to support continued global container movements.

Fleet expansion is projected to continue, potentially outpacing demand growth and reinforcing a phase of overcapacity that could extend into subsequent years, while sustainability regulations and efficiency efforts add new operational pressures.

In this context, 2026 may see more intense competition among carriers, further digitalization of procurement and logistics processes, and a greater emphasis on flexibility and regional supply chain diversification as companies seek to mitigate risk and adapt to evolving global trade conditions.

Conclusion

The recent surge in commodity prices is closely linked to the container price crisis, which has placed significant pressure on global shipping and procurement logistics. Pandemic-related disruptions in container production caused shipping costs to increase dramatically, with the price of a 40-foot container rising from around $2,000 to nearly $9,000 and sharply increasing transport costs between Asia and the U.S. 

West Coast. In response, some companies are turning to digital trading platforms and nearer suppliers to reduce reliance on expensive global shipping. However, a lasting resolution will likely require a broader approach, including structural supply chain adjustments and the normalization of global conditions.