Squeeze on second-hand boxes hits SA hard

THE SHORTAGE of second-hand boxes for local container suppliers is being boosted because of growing competition from international container buyers. “Because of the exchange rates, they are being attracted by what seems to them to be comparatively low prices in SA,” said Containerworld’s Darren Singh. “They are also buying at what, for us, are relatively high prices because of a serious shortage of second-hand containers in certain other areas of the world.” Singh doesn’t see this problem easing in the short-term, and expects the low supply, high price situation to continue in the second-hand market in SA.