How Shipping Containers Control Global Trade

Container shipping is responsible for moving 90% of the world’s goods, according to the World Economic Forum. But, if shipping containers aren’t at the right place at the right time, the global supply chain may face serious problems. It could result in high inflation, shortages of key materials and products as well as revenue losses to large and small businesses alike. At the same time, over 95% of shipping container manufacturing is happening in the nation that leads the world in exports — China, according to the Federal Maritime Commission. Here’s how shipping containers can save, or cripple, the global economy.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:29 Chapter 1: Globalization
4:22 Chapter 2: Container revolution
8:11 Chapter 3: Increased production

Produced and Edited by: Andrea Miller
Additional Reporting By: Lori Ann LaRocco
Animation: Jason Reginato
Supervising Producer: Lindsey Jacobson
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Maersk Line/Wikipedia C.C.

About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Connect with CNBC News Online

#CNBC

How Shipping Containers Control Global Trade

[bubblegum]

The timing is nothing short of predominant.

[trepan]

You've got to be f-ing kidding me CNBC 😂😅 Who approved this video today?

[Jimmy_Jones]

I'm not sure about the economy. But it can cripple a bridge.

[js]

Either CNBC posted this video on purpose, or this video being posted now is just a coincidence after the news in Baltimore today…

[redden]

Container ship hits Baltimore unrelated events, here's this video"

[christ]

you missed a bit here, the docks are optimized to operate as efficiently as possible, the problem lies in the lack of truck drivers and trucks, and that companies refuse to accept the container ex target, the truck drivers have to wait far beyond the time required by law and there is a lot of documentation on this,

[nancyharvey]

Success seems to be connected with action successful people keep moving. They make mistakes. But they don't quit. The stock market has plenty of opportunities to earn a decent payouts, with the right skills and proper understanding of how the market works.

[sp]

So y'all were actually waiting for that to happen then post this video by coincidence eh? lmao

[RiVer-Parish]

It obviously crippled Baltimore's bridge.

[tubby_]

Working at a shipping yard or harbor must be a great experience

[amorales]

Good video. Very informative. Important information for consumers to know.

[Sacto]

But yet, shipping containers became a thing by the late 1970's because of their ability to move a huge amount of goods a lot faster and with lot less fear of goods being stolen by stevedores.

[concero]

By controlling shipping container manufacture, they can undercut/influence global trade through pricing, sale volume and manufacture to market timing. They can essentially control the export sector, the question for each country would be; of how much value are our exports to china? I can’t see that import control reduction would be effective leverage against chinas economy, especially as imports are usually required and chosen for their cost effectiveness. The logical option would be to levy an import tax against china if they artificially control shipping container production.

[dummkompf]

I recently saw a neighborhood that was entirely made up of shipping containers converted into homes. This was on an indian reservation so idk if they had electricity or plumbing

[overwatch]

i’m not a conspiracy theorist but this is just…..😅

[Effervescent_Smegma]

The biggest problem is moving the empty containers back to where they are needed.

[dennisspackman]

If companies are unwilling to haul containers full both ways then ban them from unloading privileges. If you want these companies to change their behaviour there needs to be a consequence to force them to comply.

[MCorpReview]

It’s crazy 😂to make the return trip empty yo 😢

[dohminkonoha]

Chinese 🇨🇳 AI unmanned port is amazingly good.👍

[wawaMusicRadio]

Obviously it was a coincidence; the topic is not even closely related...
If they were purposely trying grab attention, they would've chosen something actually relevant, like "aging container ships" or "US bridge design flaws" or "operating a container ship"
People always like to find the tiniest similarities in things and imagine that it was all fate or some conspiracy... 🙄