When you live on an island, you need to make sure that you have an efficient way of importing and exporting cargo. The cost of the Air Freight is usually prohibitive, which means that the majority of bulk shipping goes via sea.
Shipping by sea allows you to ship a lot of cargo cost effectively, although it does take considerably longer than when using airplanes to transport cargo. The easiest way to transport a large amount of cargo using a ship is to load the cargo into shipping containers and stack these on the ship.
These shipping containers are a common sight all over the world, and they come in uniform sizes. As the shipping containers are the same sizes all over the world, they can be easily handled anywhere in the world which makes shipping cargo internationally a lot easier.
You can transport an intermodal shipping container using a variety of different modes of transport:
- Air
- Sea
- Rail
- Road
The ease of which you transport these shipping containers by various means of transport has played a massive part in their popularity all over the world. The size of the vessels that transport the shipping containers has also increased dramatically over the years, increasing the capacity from just under 60 twenty foot shipping containers, to over 18,000 twenty foot shipping containers. These behemoth ships can carry cargo all over the world at a very cost effective price.
Import and Export in Australia
Australia is a country that not only imports a lot of produce and raw materials, but we also export a vast amount every year.
| Top Imports | Top Exports |
| Crude and Refined Petroleum | Iron Ore and Concrete |
| Vehicles | Coal |
| Medicine | Natural Gas |
| Telecom Equipment | Wheat |
| Computers and Electrical Equipment | Meat |
| Furniture | Wool |
| Machinery | Cotton |
With so many companies relying on both importing and exporting of goods, this means that there is also a large shipping industry in Australia as there needs to be a reliable and affordable way to transport cargo. The need to be able to transport cargo in and out of Australia has also led companies being set up to cater for this requirement.
As Australia has a lot of natural resources, there are many companies that offer shipping containers for sale that are made entirely in Australia. When you are looking to buy for sale shipping containers, a quick search of the Internet will show a number of companies that you can speak to about purchasing a shipping container.
Choosing a Good Quality Shipping Container
As there are so many different choices with shipping containers available, you will want to make sure that when you purchase your shipping container that it is of high quality. Although shipping containers all look very similar, they can vary in quality quite dramatically, so you will need to find a company that offers high-quality shipping containers at reasonable prices.
One of the first places that you should start looking in order to find good quality shipping containers is to do a search on the internet. There are many companies that all offer shipping containers in a variety of different sizes, for sale or hire.
If possible, you should try to use an Australian company that makes their shipping containers in Australia. By doing this, you will help to ensure that the shipping container, which you purchase, is built to a set specification. This will help to ensure the quality of the shipping container.
Not all countries have as high a standard as Australia when it comes to manufacturing products. If you choose an Australian company, you are not only helping our economy, but you are also making sure that you get what you pay for, and that the quality is good. It is also a good idea for you to try and choose a company that is located close to where you require the shipping container to be delivered. By choosing a local company you will make sure that the delivery charges for the shipping container are as small as possible.
Take a Good Look Before you Buy
Another benefit of choosing to purchase your shipping container from a local company is that you get to go check out the quality of their shipping containers before you commit to buying one.
Whatever style of a shipping container that you are looking to buy, you will be able to check it out in person and see the quality of the workmanship. You can check the seams if they are all welded nice and neatly, as well as checking the seals on the doors and ventilation are also good so that the elements cannot damage the cargo inside.
It is also a good idea to check the paintwork of the shipping container, this is especially so if you are looking to purchase a second-hand one. You will want to make sure that there are no places with bare metal exposed, which could lead to corrosion.
Most good companies will offer you a warranty on your shipping container whether you are looking to purchase a brand new one or even a second-hand one. With a bit of looking around you will be able to get yourself a great quality shipping container, at a very competitive price.