A Silknet Venture
FAQ

Questions buyers ask us.

If your question isn't here, email [email protected] — a person answers, not an autoresponder.

Ordering

How do I buy new shipping containers directly from China?

Send your requirements — container type, quantity, timing and destination — and receive an itemized quotation. Confirm with a deposit, have the units inspected during production, receive the inspection report, photos and video, then pay the balance before release. We handle that full chain — factory allocation, inspection, documents and first-trip delivery — through a registered Hong Kong company, from 10 units.

Is it safe to buy shipping containers from a Chinese supplier online?

It is safe when you can verify three things before money moves: the seller is a registered company whose bank beneficiary name matches the contract, the units are CSC-plated and built under classification-society survey, and you receive an independent inspection report with photos and video before your balance payment. If a seller cannot offer all three, walk away.

How much does a new shipping container cost?

There is no fixed list price — new-build pricing moves with steel prices and factory demand, which is why serious suppliers quote rather than publish numbers. A genuine quotation itemizes three components separately: the factory price of the container, the procurement and service fee, and optional logistics to your destination, each with a stated validity period.

What is a shipper-owned container (SOC)?

A shipper-owned container is one you own outright instead of renting from a shipping line — no demurrage or detention clock, no return deadline. Freight forwarders and exporters buy SOCs to control their own equipment and cut per-diem costs. Every container we supply is sold as an SOC: yours from the payment milestone in your contract, delivered with the ownership documents.

What is the minimum order quantity?

Production allocation typically starts from 10–20 units depending on type and factory schedule. For smaller quantities, ask anyway — we can sometimes attach small orders to a larger production run, or offer one-trip units already positioned near you.

Can I order mixed types in one batch?

Yes — 20FT, 40FT and 40FT High Cube can be combined in one order and one delivery, subject to production scheduling.

Can I choose the color and put my own logo on the units?

Yes. New-build orders can specify a RAL color and carry your markings and prefix; this is standard for fleet and leasing buyers and is confirmed on the batch specification sheet.

Do you publish prices?

No — new-container pricing moves with steel prices and factory demand, so a public price list would either mislead you or pad a margin to be safe. Every quotation is prepared against current factory allocation, itemized, and valid for a stated period.

Production & inspection

How do I know the containers are actually built and to spec?

You receive inspection reports with photos and video from production, and the full specification documents, before your balance payment is due. On request we arrange third-party inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas, CCS or ABS reporting directly to you.

Can I inspect or audit the factory?

Yes. Factory visits can be arranged for confirmed orders, and third-party surveyors can attend production on your behalf if you can't travel.

What do CSC and ISO certification mean?

Containers used in international transport must be safety-approved under the International Convention for Safe Containers and carry a CSC Safety Approval Plate with the unit's technical data. ISO 668 / 1496-1 define the dimensions, ratings and structural tests. Every unit we supply carries both.

Logistics

How does first-trip logistics actually work?

Your new containers are loaded with real export cargo in China and shipped to your region. The cargo owner pays the ocean shipping, so you never pay to move an empty box. Inland haulage, terminal handling and local charges at destination are quoted separately and shown as their own lines. Full explanation →

How long from order to arrival?

Production slots, build time and the first-trip voyage together typically span two to four months depending on destination and factory schedule. Your quotation states the expected production month and arrival window.

Can I collect at the factory in China instead?

Yes — factory or port collection is always available if you run your own logistics. First-trip delivery is optional.

Who handles customs in my country?

Import clearance, duties and taxes at destination are yours (or your broker's) — we provide every document needed for clearance and can recommend brokers on major lanes.

Payment & company

What are the payment terms?

Milestone payments: a deposit on order confirmation and the balance before the containers are released to you — with inspection documentation delivered in between. Exact percentages are stated on your quotation, and funds go to Silknet Hong Kong Limited's corporate account only.

How do I verify your company is real?

Silknet Hong Kong Limited is a registered Hong Kong company. Full company, banking and contact details are stated on your quotation and contract, so you can verify everything — including that the bank beneficiary matches the contracting company — before paying anything.

Do you still sell used containers?

Yes — used and one-trip units from partner depots remain available for smaller and storage-focused needs on the used containers page. Our core business is new-build factory procurement.