International shipping lines increase orders for Vietnam-made containers

More than 4,000 container units were shipped from Hoa Phat Container Production Joint Stock Company's factory in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai area, located in Ho Chi Minh City, during the second quarter of 2026 alone, with deliveries made to shipping lines, equipment leasing companies, and port operators in both domestic and international markets.

The customer base now includes major global shipping lines such as Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM.

Hapag-Lloyd, one of Germany's leading container carriers, has placed an order for 2,000 20-foot containers alone.

Container leasing firms such as SeaCube, Touax, and Textainer are also on the customer list, alongside equipment service and operation companies including OSG, DCM, and Hutchinson Equipment Services.

Domestically, containers have been shipped to Hai An, VIMC Lines, Saigon Newport, Vinafco, Vsico, and Vietsun, businesses in maritime transport, port operations, and logistics that need a steady supply of containers for their fleets and cargo chains.

The orders span standard 20-foot dry containers, 20-foot high cube containers, and 40-foot high cube containers, as well as specialized types like open-top, open-side, and office containers.

The company also supplies mechanical components used to repair, replace, and maintain containers already in service.

Beyond shipping containers, the factory has branched into enclosures for battery energy storage systems (BESS), supplying customers both in Vietnam and abroad.

These specialized casings, built to house power storage battery packs, are seeing rising demand in the U.S., Australia, Europe, and Vietnam.

A container might look simple from the outside, but producing them at scale is another matter.

It takes large capital, stable orders, a synchronized production line, and the ability to meet international technical standards.

Steel alone makes up about 55 percent of the cost of a container shell, which must be made from specialized SPA-H steel capable of resisting corrosion and withstanding harsh weather during sea transport.

That steel is produced at the Dung Quat Steel Complex, according to Hoa Phat, and about 90 percent of the raw materials used in its containers are sourced domestically, giving the company more control over quality, cost, and delivery schedules than earlier manufacturers had.

It is an advantage many Vietnamese firms that previously tried their hand at container manufacturing never enjoyed.

Back in late 2007, a container factory in the old Hai Duong City, was built with an initial capacity of 45,000 TEU per year, but the project later shut down.

Several other companies also attempted to break into the business, only to scale back due to high costs, material shortages, inconsistent orders, and difficulty meeting international customers' standards.

Most Vietnamese firms in the field today still focus mainly on repairing and refurbishing containers, or on manufacturing trailers and semi-trailers.