Pockets of promise

摘要

According to the latest Containerisation International Market Analysis: World Container Census 2010* the global container count declined in the period up to mid-2009. It was the first reduction in the industry's history and reflected the dire trading conditions associated with the global economic recession. However, it was not bad news for every type of owner/operator of containers. While ocean carriers serving the mainstream trades lost ground, as did leasing companies, other transport firms posted a collective increase in their inventories (see table 1). This group mainly comprises land-based operators, but also includes bulk, combined transport, forwarding and military entities.