The 45′ container – a CMA CGM Group specialty attracting growing interest

The 45′ High Cube is a very special type of container. Longer than standard units (20’ and 40’), it has ISO-standard intermediary corners making it totally compatible with other container types. With nearly 14,500 x 45’ HC and 3,500 x 45′ HW Pallet Wide, it may represent a small part of CMA CGM’s container fleet but a significant share of the market compared to the competition (20%).

This container, which was initially dedicated to American markets, is now seeing intensive seasonal use with Trans-Pacific traffic, as the United States imports a lot of Chinese products during July, August and September in preparation for the high level of economic activity at the end of the year (Peak Season).

Because it corresponds to the dimensions of American road transport trailers the 45’ container is perfectly adapted to American trailer trucks and can transport 12.5% more merchandise, thus making it an indispensable piece of equipment.

Demand for the 45’ is steadily increasing and is also on the rise in Europe and the Mediterranean. During the summer months, more than a thousand 45’ containers were loaded each week out of Asia.

To meet this demand, the Group increased the capacity of the 45’ container fleet by 14%.

Demand for the 45’ will only continue to grow in the years to come. Being able to load more merchandise in one container reduces a cargo’s carbon footprint. This ecological aspect of the 45’ is bound to interest users of this type of container, which are mostly the big retailers who are very conscious of this aspect. Taking it one step further on the eco-responsible path, all the new 45’ containers have environmentally-friendly bamboo floors.