Carriers shift containers to China as Europe faces supply squeeze

The global container market is entering a new phase of rebalancing as carriers accelerate the repositioning of equipment back to Asia, a move expected to reduce container availability across Europe in the near term, according to a report by Sogese.

The report said depots across Europe remain congested, while demand and pricing signals in China are strengthening. Carriers are increasingly repositioning containers back to origin markets, particularly China, where production activity and demand are showing renewed strength.

“What we are seeing in the market is a clear directional shift in container flows. Depots across Europe remain congested, while prices and demand signals in China are strengthening. Carriers are actively repositioning equipment back to origin, and this is likely to reduce European stock levels in the near term, particularly for 40HC, as production and demand begin to align again,” said Andrea Monti, CEO and Managing Director of Sogese, a container provider based in Italy.

For much of early 2026, Europe experienced elevated depot congestion and extended dwell times, creating the perception of oversupply. However, the report noted that this surplus is now being actively corrected through repositioning strategies.

The report added that longer transit cycles, inland bottlenecks and congestion at intermediate hubs are slowing the return of equipment into active circulation, further increasing the impact of outbound repositioning.

According to Sogese, the tightening in Europe is being driven by the movement of containers through the system. Extended transit times, delayed port operations and disrupted routing patterns are increasing the time needed for equipment to complete each cycle.

As repositioning activity increases, availability constraints are expected to emerge even while depot utilisation remains high, creating a gap between visible stock levels and access to usable equipment.

The report also highlighted broader changes across global shipping networks, particularly on Asia-Europe services where routing, scheduling and capacity deployment are being continuously adjusted.

Longer transit times and extended port delays are increasing container cycle times, making time efficiency a major constraint on effective capacity. At the same time, freight pricing is increasingly being influenced by fuel costs, insurance premiums and rerouting decisions rather than demand trends.

Among the key findings of the report were structurally extended transit times, constrained circulation despite available capacity, rising costs despite stable freight rates, and growing uncertainty affecting working capital, especially for smaller companies.

The report said Italy reflects many of these wider trends. While container throughput at major Italian ports has remained broadly stable, delays in vessel arrivals, longer waiting times at ports and inconsistencies in equipment availability are affecting operational efficiency.

It added that longer shipment cycles and uncertainty around delivery timelines are beginning to impact payment cycles and working capital, particularly for smaller businesses with limited financial flexibility.

Sogese said operational pressure is likely to emerge first through reduced equipment availability. Exporters and logistics operators across Europe are expected to face lower access to containers during peak periods, longer lead times to secure equipment and greater uncertainty in planning and execution.