Buoyant outlook for container market

Almar Container Group is upbeat about prospects for the year ahead. Providing container sales and leasing solutions across a wide range of equipment for international and domestic use, the company believes its standard container offering will continue to show good growth. “We also anticipate exciting growth in our customised ALPAQ – a flatpack modular accommodation unit – and our DNV approved off-shore containers,” says Almar’s Warren Jacobs. “They are well suited to the major mining and oil and gas explorations that are happening throughout Africa and in the world,” he said. While the global financial crisis caused a major decline in demand for containers in 2009, relative stability this year has seen growing demand, says Jacobs. And this is fuelled by two factors. “First the return to growth in world economies and second a major reduction in the manufacture of new containers. The latter is unlikely to be rectified in the short to medium term, which means that supply will not keep pace with growing demand.” Established in 1988 by Alistair Forbes, Almar has offices and dedicated agents in South Africa, Middle East, Brazil and India. “This global footprint enables us to provide a full range of flexible international and domestic container sales and leasing solutions. “Over the years Almar’s container product offering has grown to meet the needs of its customers and its diverse range of containerised products caters for mining exploration, oil extraction and natural gas projects in addition to the traditional shipping, transport and logistics sector,” he said.