​Container Shipping Is Now More Affordable Than Ever: Is It Time To Migrate To Containerised Transport From RoRo?

Opinions on container shipping pricing are contradictory. In terms of the market dynamics of 2025, prices are volatile, affected by a variety of factors from capacity to tariff uncertainty.

In June this year, for instance, container spot rates jumped 70% within a month along the busy Shanghai to Los Angeles shipping lane, to highs of US $5,876 per container. Not welcome news for businesses by any stretch of the imagination.

However, in the bigger picture of the last few years, it’s hard to deny that container shipping has reached a turning point. Spot rates seem to have stabilised around the $5,000 mark by late June, making shipping container transport significantly cheaper than the extreme highs of 2020 to 2022.

During the Pandemic, port to port spot rates for 40 foot container jumped from a five year average of $2,177 in early 2020, to over $9,600 in July 2020 – an increase of over 500% – with costs of US $12,000 to $15,000 or more being commonplace by late 2021.

In this context, container shipping is positively cheap, with significantly reduced turbulence and risk. If your operation is still committed to Roll On Roll Off (Ro-Ro) shipping, therefore, now might be the time to rethink your strategy. With cost barriers falling, container shipping provides a smarter, less risky, and more stable alternative to Ro-Ro. Let’s take a closer look at what’s driving this shift.

Container Rates: Cost Down, Predictability Up

Recent data from the World Container Index revealed a steady decline and stabilisation in the price of shipping 40 foot containers. This is a big deal for logistics managers and auto manufacturers. Unlike the unpredictability of Ro-Ro pricing, which can be thrown off by poor congestion, weather events, and limited vessel options, container rates are levelling out, providing real savings and empowering decisive planning. This isn’t just good news for large automotive manufacturers and global FVL businesses. Whether you are shipping a handful of vehicles or hundreds, the scalable structure of container pricing makes it accessible to a wide range of players. You can plan your logistics operations with fewer surprises and greater confidence in your cost control.

A Smarter Way To Ship

Security is where containerised shipping really sets itself apart from Ro-Ro. Cars in shipping containers enjoy full protection from weather, salt, theft and accidental bumps during handling, as well as a significantly lower fire risk. Ro-Ro shipping, by contrast, exposes cars to open decks and extra damage risk during transfers. Equipped with purpose-built racking systems like those we offer at Trans Rak, more cars can fit safely within a single container, with each one secured for its journey. No matter the route or conditions, your assets can arrive in showroom condition, with no last-minute repairs or unexpected costs.

Agility And Resilience

Agility is extremely important in today’s global shipping market. Ro-Ro routes, often tied to specific ports and schedules, offer very little flexibility if unexpected disruptions hit. Blank sailings, bad weather, and geopolitical instability can derail your deliveries overnight. Container shipping helps you mitigate this vulnerability. It is far easier to redirect containers between ports, for instance, moving them by rail or barge, and slotting them into alternative supply chains. If Plan A is blocked or becomes unaffordable, there is always a Plan B, C, or even D.

Lower Risk And Higher Sustainability

On top of market volatility, the logistics sector is also under pressure to clean up its act. Container shipping unlocks new pathways to greener transport for both short haul and long-haul routes. By shifting some legs of the journey to rail, road, or inland waterways, shippers can dramatically cut their carbon emissions while increasing the options available to avoid delays and congestion. This provides companies with a straightforward way to hit their sustainability targets without slowing down.

Why Switch Now?

Increasingly, the old arguments in favour of  Ro-Ro transport no longer hold up. Shipping costs for containers are becoming more competitive and stable, with the safety net of extra protection minimising losses from damage, theft, and accident. Flexibility is built into container shipping, helping to keep your customers happy and your supply chain flowing. Get in touch today to find out about our innovative flexible racking solutions, and make the transition to containerised shipping for your operation.

​Image source: Canva