Dong Fang International Containers

What Dong Fang International Containers does

Dong Fang International Containers (legal name: Shanghai Universal Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd.) is a Shanghai-based private manufacturer of shipping containers founded in 2005, serving global logistics and shipping operators. The company's core business is the production of standard dry shipping containers in 20-foot and 40-foot configurations, which are sold to ocean carriers, shipping lines, and freight forwarders for use in global trade. DFIC is one of four Chinese manufacturers that collectively control approximately 95% of global standard dry shipping container production capacity, with China accounting for 96% of worldwide container production and 8.1 million TEUs of output in 2024.

The company's technology stack combines traditional steel container manufacturing with proprietary innovations including zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel materials for enhanced corrosion resistance and AI-driven smart manufacturing systems that have reportedly increased per capita production efficiency by over 30 percent. Beyond its core shipping container business, DFIC has extended into adjacent product lines including energy storage containers for the new energy sector, smart agriculture modules for urban farming applications, and modular building units for construction markets.

DFIC operates a B2B manufacturing model with pricing historically tied to global steel and trade cycle dynamics — 40-foot container prices ranged from approximately $2,800 in 2019 to over $5,900 during the 2021 COVID-era supply chain crisis, and 20-foot units rose from ~$1,600 to $3,500+ over the same period. The company is currently the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice criminal indictment (May 2026) and multiple civil antitrust class actions alleging participation in a price-fixing and output-restriction cartel with three other Chinese manufacturers between November 2019 and January 2024, with the alleged conduct affecting over US$35 billion in global trade.

Name

Dong Fang International Containers

Legal name

Shanghai Universal Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd.

Website

https://dfichk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Dong Fang International Containers is a Shanghai-based manufacturer of standard dry shipping containers (20-foot and 40-foot units) serving global shipping lines and logistics operators, and is one of four Chinese manufacturers controlling approximately 95% of global production capacity for such containers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipping Container Manufacturing

NAICS

Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing (3324), Other Metal Container Manufacturing (332439)

SIC

Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412), Metal Cans (3411)

akta.pro primary industry

Container Yards & Inland Depot Storage (Empty Container Depots/ICDs) (TLALAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bulk Liners & Container Liners (Dry Bulk Liners) (IMALAGAE)

Keywords

• Shipping container manufacturing
• Dry cargo containers
• Intermodal logistics equipment
• Modular steel containers
• Energy storage containers

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Core offering

Dong Fang International Containers manufactures standard dry shipping containers in 20-foot and 40-foot configurations for global trade and ocean logistics, which constitute the company's primary business. The company is also extending its container platform into energy storage units, smart agriculture modules, and modular building containers, applying AI-driven manufacturing and zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel materials to deliver higher-durability, higher-efficiency products.

Product overview

Dong Fang International Containers operates as a manufacturer of standard dry shipping containers (20-foot and 40-foot units) that constitute the core of its business, while simultaneously expanding into emerging applications through product line extensions including energy storage containers, smart agriculture modules, and modular building containers. The company is transforming traditional shipping containers into high-tech products for new energy and urban development applications, utilizing advanced materials such as zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel and AI-driven manufacturing processes to increase production efficiency by over 30 percent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Dry Shipping Containers 20-foot and 40-foot standard dry shipping containers sold to ocean carriers, shipping lines, and intermodal logistics operators for global cargo transport. These represent the company's core product line and primary revenue driver.
• Energy Storage Containers Shipping containers repurposed into energy storage units for the new energy sector, leveraging zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel for durability in energy infrastructure applications.
• Smart Agriculture Modules Containers reconfigured into smart agriculture modules for agricultural technology applications, utilizing advanced materials and modular design for controlled-environment growing deployments.
• Modular Building Containers Containers converted into modular building units for urban development and construction applications, featuring high-tech reconfigurations and the same zinc-aluminum-magnesium coated steel materials used in core container production.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CIMC Group: World's largest intermodal shipping container manufacturer and one of the four producers indicted alongside Dong Fang for the alleged price-fixing conspiracy. Directly comparable as a Chinese-headquartered container OEM serving the same global shipping-line customers with the same 20-ft/40-ft dry box product line.
• Singamas Container Holdings: Hong Kong-listed container manufacturer also named in the DOJ indictment as one of the four conspirators. Comparable as a major Asia-based producer of standard dry shipping containers serving global ocean carriers.
• CIMC Xinhui (CXIC): Chinese dry container manufacturer within the broader CIMC ecosystem and a co-defendant in the DOJ/civil antitrust cases. Directly comparable product mix (standard 20-ft and 40-ft dry containers) and customer base.
• China International Marine Containers (CIMC Holdings): Listed parent/group entity of CIMC's container manufacturing operations and the largest producer globally. Most directly comparable peer in terms of scale, product portfolio (dry, reefer, special containers), and customer overlap with global shipping lines.

Broad incumbents

• Maersk Container Industry: Historically a major refrigerated and dry container manufacturer integrated with Maersk shipping; comparable as a global container OEM but operating as part of a much larger integrated logistics conglomerate rather than as a standalone Asian exporter.
• Schoeller Allibert: European-headquartered manufacturer of reusable plastic containers, pallets, and bulk boxes serving industrial logistics customers. Comparable as a reusable industrial container OEM, though product format differs from intermodal dry boxes.

Emerging players

• Hyundai Steel (Container Steel & OEM): Korean integrated steelmaker with container-grade steel supply and limited container manufacturing exposure. Comparable as a non-Chinese alternative supplier into the global dry container market.

Others

• Triton Container International: One of the world's largest container lessors. Comparable as a downstream buyer of standard dry containers and a potential plaintiff/affected party in the antitrust litigation.
• CAI International: Global container lessor and logistics provider. Comparable not as a manufacturer but as a downstream customer in the dry container value chain affected by the alleged price-fixing scheme.

Regional players

• Beacon Intermodal Leasing: U.S.-based container leasing and refurbishment operator; comparable as part of the global dry container supply chain (lessor rather than OEM), and directly relevant as a downstream counterparty exposed to the same antitrust allegations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dfichk
• Facebookfacebook.com/Dong-Fang-International-Containers-100079102479201
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dong-fang-international-container-dfic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dong Fang International Containers