CARU Containers
CARU Containers is a Rotterdam-headquartered global container trader that buys, sells, and rents shipping and storage containers across 70+ countries via 10 offices, serving logistics and warehousing customers through a hybrid e-commerce and direct sales model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CARU Containers does
CARU Containers is a global container trading company headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2000 and operating as a subsidiary of CARU Group B.V. The company buys, sells, and rents shipping and storage containers — specifically 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube units, available in both new and used condition and ISO/CSC certified — with annual throughput of approximately 125,000 containers. It serves two primary end-markets: shipping and logistics operators requiring containers for active freight, and storage and warehousing customers needing static container units.
The business runs a hybrid go-to-market model. For small buyers, an e-commerce webshop handles orders capped at six containers per type, capturing a long-tail of SMB and individual customers. For larger commercial accounts, a direct sales force handles bulk purchases. Revenue is generated through two streams: one-time sales of new and used containers, and recurring rental/leasing contracts on the container fleet. Operationally, the company has built an offhire portal on the Mendix low-code platform to manage container returns and lifecycle events for rental customers, indicating early-stage internal digitization but no AI/ML capability.
CARU operates 10 regional offices supporting transactions in more than 70 countries, with established legal entities in the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, and Sweden, and newer offices in Brazil and Boston, USA. Headcount is reported at 51-100 employees. Leadership is structured as a Co-CEO model that includes Lennart de Bruin. The combination of a multi-continent footprint, hybrid digital and direct-sales channels, and a 25-year operating history positions CARU as a mid-sized, distributed container trader rather than a niche specialist or a global leasing-major competitor.
CARU Containers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CARU Containers
- Legal name
- CARU Group B.V.
- Website
- https://carucontainers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CARU Containers is a Rotterdam-headquartered global container trader that buys, sells, and rents shipping and storage containers across 70+ countries via 10 offices, serving logistics and warehousing customers through a hybrid e-commerce and direct sales model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CARU Containers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Shipping Container Trading
- NAICS
- Transportation and Warehousing (48-49), General Warehousing and Storage (493110)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intermodal Equipment & Container/Chassis Pooling (Leasing/Management) (TLADAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intermodal Container Leasing/Rental (ISO Containers) (TLABACAF), Container Yards & Inland Depot Storage (Empty Container Depots/ICDs) (TLALAAAI)
Keywords
Where CARU Containers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
CARU Containers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Container Sales: CARU trades new and used shipping containers globally. Containers are sold in various conditions including new, used (approximately 14 years old with global travel history), and AsIs. The company sells 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube containers.
- Container Rental/Leasing: CARU offers rental services for containers, allowing customers temporary use of containers for storage or transport needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Online container purchases limited to 6 units per type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
CARU Containers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CARU Containers trades new and used shipping and storage containers globally, offering 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube units with ISO and CSC certification for intermodal transport and on-site storage. The company operates an online webshop for direct orders (capped at 6 containers per type), a direct sales channel for bulk and custom orders, a rental/leasing program, and an offhire portal for managing container returns. Operations span 10 offices across more than 70 countries, with approximately 125,000 containers sold per year.
Product overview
CARU Containers operates as a container trading company offering new and used shipping containers across two main product lines: Shipping Containers and Storage Containers. The portfolio includes 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube containers. All shipping containers meet ISO and CSC certification standards and are available for purchase or rental. The company operates globally through 10 offices in more than 70 countries, selling approximately 125,000 containers per year with over 20 years of experience. An offhire portal is available for managing container returns.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shipping Containers New and used shipping containers available in 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube sizes, with CSC certification for international maritime transport. Sold via online webshop for orders up to 6 units per type, with custom quotes for larger orders.
- Storage Containers Containers marketed for secure on-site storage applications, available in various sizes for domestic and commercial use. Includes wind- and watertight units for protecting goods at customer locations.
- Container Rental and Leasing Rental and leasing services providing customers temporary access to containers for storage or transport needs on a recurring subscription basis.
- Offhire Portal Web-based portal for managing container offhire operations, enabling customers to process container returns.
Companies that use CARU Containers
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CARU Containers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CARU Containers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CARU Containers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Triton Container International: One of the world's largest intermodal container lessors, trading and leasing ISO containers globally. Directly comparable to CARU's combination of container trading and rental activities, though at materially larger scale.
- Textainer Container Corporation: Public intermodal container lessor and trader with a global fleet. Comparable to CARU in product offering (ISO container leasing and trading) and customer base (shipping lines and cargo owners).
- Beacon Intermodal Leasing: Global container leasing company owned by investment funds, active in both new and used container leasing and sales. Mirrors CARU's blended new/used inventory and cross-border trading model.
- SeaCube Container Leasing: Intermodal container lessor with a global fleet serving shipping lines and cargo owners. Directly comparable in product (ISO container leasing) and customer overlap, though with a US-centric focus.
- Florens Container Services: COSCO-affiliated container leasing and management company providing ISO container leasing, sales, and depot services. Comparable in trading, leasing, and depot operations.
- Container One: US-based container trading and modification company selling and renting new and used shipping containers. Direct competitor in the same SMB and storage customer segments CARU targets in North America.
- Almar Container Group: Netherlands-based container supplier trading new and used containers, with depot and modification services. Closest regional peer to CARU, sharing the Rotterdam home market and similar European customer base.
Regional players
- Containerhandel.nl: Dutch container dealer trading new and used shipping containers primarily within the Netherlands and Belgium. Overlaps with CARU on product and region but with a more localized sales motion.
Broad incumbents
- CXIC Group: Chinese manufacturer and trader of ISO shipping containers, supplying both new builds and used containers globally. Comparable in product and trading activity, with a manufacturing vertical that CARU does not own.
Emerging players
- Seacastle: Specialist in intermodal container leasing and maritime equipment, with a focus on smaller operators. Comparable business model in container leasing and depot-based management.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CARU Containers social profiles
Digital presenceCARU Containers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CARU Containers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CARU Containers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
CARU Containers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CARU Containers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CARU Containers
What does CARU Containers do?
CARU Containers trades new and used shipping and storage containers globally, offering 20ft Standard, 40ft Standard, and 40ft High Cube units with ISO and CSC certification for intermodal transport and on-site storage. The company operates an online webshop for direct orders (capped at 6 containers per type), a direct sales channel for bulk and custom orders, a rental/leasing program, and an offhire portal for managing container returns. Operations span 10 offices across more than 70 countries, with approximately 125,000 containers sold per year.
Is CARU Containers a public or private company?
CARU Containers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CARU Containers founded?
CARU Containers was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CARU Containers based?
CARU Containers is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does CARU Containers make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Container Sales are the primary driver. The others are container Rental/Leasing.
Who are CARU Containers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Triton Container International, Textainer Container Corporation, Beacon Intermodal Leasing, SeaCube Container Leasing, Florens Container Services, Container One and Almar Container Group. Containerhandel.nl is listed as a regional player. CXIC Group is listed as a broad incumbent. Seacastle is listed as an emerging player.
Does CARU Containers have an API?
No public API is recorded for CARU Containers.
What industry is CARU Containers in?
CARU Containers's product category is Shipping Container Trading. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADAFAD, Intermodal Equipment & Container/Chassis Pooling (Leasing/Management), with a secondary code of TLABACAF, Intermodal Container Leasing/Rental (ISO Containers). Its NAICS code is 48-49 and its SIC code is 3790.