ITCO 2019 Tank Container Fleet Survey published: Global tank container fleet reaches 604,700 units
The number of tank containers produced last year also showed a significant increase. In 2018, a total of 59,700 tank containers were built, compared to 48,500 in 2017, an increase of more than 11,000 units over the previous year.
The complete Survey can be downloaded from the ITCO website http://www.itco.org.
The Survey shows how, numerically, the industry continues to be dominated on a global level by a relatively small number of major tank container operators and leasing companies. The top 10 operators account for over 225,000 tanks representing nearly 60% of the global operators’ fleet of 381,700 units. The top 10 leasing companies account for 227,000 tanks, about 82% of the total leasing fleet of 286,000. The top three leasing companies account for 150,000 tanks, almost 55% of the total fleet.
Commenting on the results of the Survey, Reg Lee, ITCO President, notes: “This year’s ITCO Tank Container Fleet Survey again shows significant growth in the tank container business during the past 12 months. The expansion of the tank container industry underlines the fact that this mode of transport is safe, reliable, economic and sustainable. There are a number of reasons for this growth. The trend continues to successfully convert certain cargoes – which were previously shipped in drums or transported in chemical tankers – to tank containers. In addition, China has seen a significant growth in the use of tank containers for domestic transport of bulk liquids. These factors have contributed to high levels of demand for the services of ITCO Members – in all sectors of the industry – reflected in higher equipment investment and utilisation.”
Reg Lee continues: “The World today is very concerned with the pollution of our planet and the effect on global warming. Plastic waste is polluting our oceans or being incinerated to pollute the air we breathe. Still more plastic material of all kinds is being sent to landfill sites around the world where it will take 100 years or more to bio-degrade after being buried to become a problem for future generations. At last governments around the western world are showing their concern and are banning plastic bags. The Tank Container industry must show its concern for the planet, by demanding that – if plastic bags are used to transport bulk liquid products – the customers using them should obtain a certificate from the carrier to confirm where and how the plastic bag will be disposed, after this product has been discharged.”
