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Selection behavior of the global container shipping industry for carrier-owned and leased containers

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  • Wu, Wei-Ming
  • Lin, Tsan-Hwan

Abstract

In container shipping practices, containers owned by the shipping lines and leasing companies are generally regarded as homogeneous factor inputs and can substitute each other perfectly in providing the shipping service. Based on industry-wide data, this study surprisingly finds that the behavior of container selection for container shipping lines does not follow the pattern of perfect substitution, but rather the pattern of fixed proportions technology, through a constant elasticity of substitution production function. Combined with the observed relationship between the approximately constant leasing rates and the shrinking price premiums for leasing companies over the past two decades, the empirical results suggest that concerns with both the capital cost and strategic means may play key roles in determining the mix of owned and leased containers for the shipping lines. Several strategic concerns including the long-term leasing contract, supplier diversity program, and option contract are discussed and suggested as approaches that can be applied by the shipping lines to arrange their leasing policies with lessors and to moderate the competition of these two parties in expanding their container fleets. These approaches not only can reduce the costs and the associated risks for the shipping lines, but can also alleviate the situation of over-supplied containers in the global container shipping industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Wei-Ming & Lin, Tsan-Hwan, 2015. "Selection behavior of the global container shipping industry for carrier-owned and leased containers," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 11-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:37:y:2015:i:c:p:11-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2014.10.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zheng, Jianfeng & Sun, Zhuo & Zhang, Fangjun, 2016. "Measuring the perceived container leasing prices in liner shipping network design with empty container repositioning," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 123-140.
    2. Kolar, Petr & Schramm, Hans-Joachim & Prockl, Günter, 2018. "Intermodal transport and repositioning of empty containers in Central and Eastern Europe hinterland," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 73-82.
    3. Hu, Hongtao & Yuan, Jun & Nian, Victor, 2019. "Development of a multi-objective decision-making method to evaluate correlated decarbonization measures under uncertainty – The example of international shipping," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 148-157.
    4. Finnsgård, Christian & Kalantari, Joakim & Roso, Violeta & Woxenius, Johan, 2020. "The Shipper's perspective on slow steaming - Study of Six Swedish companies," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 44-49.

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