BIC - Bureau International des Containers

What BIC - Bureau International des Containers does

BIC (Bureau International des Containers) is a neutral, non-profit international organization founded in 1933 under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce. Headquartered in Paris, France, at 41 Rue Réaumur, BIC operates as the global standards body for container identification and supply chain data infrastructure. The organization serves container owners, operators, ocean and inland terminals, shippers, forwarders, and container depots, holding official NGO observer status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and UN/CEFACT. BIC aligns its work with ISO TC 104 (Freight Containers) and ISO 6346 standards, and publishes the BIC Code Register — the authoritative registry of three-letter container owner prefix codes — since 1970.

BIC's product portfolio centers on standardized identification systems and free, API-accessible databases. The BoxTech Global Container Database, launched in 2016, holds technical details on more than 15.3 million containers and processes over 1.8 million API calls per month. The BIC Facility Code Database provides unique 9-character identifiers for over 17,000 container facilities across 160 countries, complemented by the Global Container Geofence Library holding 4,500+ panel-approved geofences. BIC also operates the Global ACEP Database under IMO guidance and has piloted the Container Interest Register (CIR) with Quincy Consulting for container-level ownership and security interest recording. Recent product work includes the 2026 BoxTech Upload Redesign and a 2026 CIR white paper documenting the pilot phase.

BIC operates as a membership-funded non-profit with an API-first, free-access distribution model. Core services including BoxTech, Facility Codes, and APIs are provided at no charge under a fair-use approach, while revenue derives from membership dues and code registration fees across 3,000+ member organizations in 128 countries. Distribution is primarily through digital channels — REST APIs with OAuth/Bearer authentication, the portal.bic-code.org self-service platform, and a global National Registration Office (NRO) network for regional representation. The organization is notably lean, operating with approximately 12 staff while supporting an enterprise-grade user base that includes CMA-CGM, MSC, and Maersk, plus the Container Owners Association and other industry bodies.

Name

BIC - Bureau International des Containers

Legal name

Bureau International des Containers

Website

https://bic-code.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIC (Bureau International des Containers) is a 1933-founded Paris-based non-profit standards body for global container shipping, providing free BIC identification codes, the BoxTech container database covering 15.3 million+ containers, facility codes, and geofencing services to 3,000+ members in 128 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Container Identification and Standards

NAICS

Warehousing and Storage (493)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Container/Chassis Inspection, Certification & Compliance Services (CSC, IICL, DOT/FMCSA) (TLAKACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Container Freight Stations (CFS) & LCL Deconsolidation/Consolidation (TLAHAAAG), Warehousing, CFS & Bonded Storage for General Cargo (Within Terminal) (TLAHADAI)

Keywords

• Container identification codes
• Container equipment database
• Facility code registry
• Geofence library
• Container standardization

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: BIC operates as a neutral, non-profit international organization with over 3000 container owning and operating members in 128 countries. Revenue appears to come from membership fees and code registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BIC (Bureau International des Containers) provides standardized container identification systems and free global databases for the container shipping industry. It maintains the BIC Code Register (owner prefix codes since 1970), BoxTech Global Container Database (15.3M+ containers), Facility Code Database (17,000+ facilities in 160 countries), and the Global Container Geofence Library (4,500+ geofences), all accessible via APIs and web portals.

Product overview

BIC operates a unified platform of container industry databases and identification systems, comprising: the BIC Code Register (publisher since 1970) providing owner prefix codes; BoxTech Global Container Database (free service since 2016) holding 15.3M+ container specifications; BIC Facility Code Database (17,000+ facilities); Global Container Geofence Library (4,500+ geofences); Global ACEP Database; and the Container Interest Register (pilot). All databases are accessible via APIs for system integration. The organization also publishes container marking standards, inspection criteria (UCIRC), and packing guidance through the Cargo Integrity Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BoxTech: Global Container Database - a neutral, centralized data repository providing container owners and users a platform to easily exchange container fleet technical details. Holds data on over 15.3 million containers.
• BIC Facility Codes
• Global Container Geofence Library
• Global ACEP Database
• Container Interest Register (CIR)

Products and services

• BoxTech Global Container Database Free, neutral, non-profit global container equipment database launched in 2016, holding technical details of more than 15.3 million containers. Enables container owners to share fleet specifications with trading partners including terminals, depots, shippers, forwarders, and carriers.
• BIC Code Register Publisher of BIC Code Register since 1970, providing unique owner prefix codes (three-letter identifiers) for container owners and operators in accordance with ISO 6346.
• BIC Facility Code Database Provides unique 9-character identifiers for over 17,000 container facilities across 160 countries. A child code of UN/LOCODE, covering depots, container yards, container freight stations, and M&R vendors.
• Global Container Geofence Library Collaborative platform for establishing geofence boundaries for container facilities, terminals, and depots. Holds 4,500+ panel-approved geofences accessible via API, supporting berth areas, truck queues, railheads, and gate areas.
• Global ACEP Database Operated under IMO guidance, provides publicly accessible list of Approved Continuous Examination Programs (ACEP) as recommended by the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC).
• Container Interest Register (CIR) Secure, searchable register for recording container-level ownership, security, and long-term lease interests. Developed with Quincy Consulting, integrates with BoxTech database for authenticated BIC codes and specifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.8 million BoxTech API calls per month
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Cargo Integrity GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022BIC joined the Cargo Integrity Group in February 2022, a partnership of global trade bodies (COA, FIATA, GSF, ICHCA, TT Club, WSC) collectively promoting high standards in packing of cargo in freight containers and raising awareness of the CTU Code to avoid safety and environmental risks.
• SMDG (Ship-planning Message Development Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint BIC-SMDG Facility Code API providing access to both BIC Facility Codes and SMDG Ocean Terminal Codes. SMDG maintains the Ocean Terminal Code database while BIC hosts the joint API platform.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)flagshipOthersBIC holds official observer status as an NGO at the IMO. Operates the Global ACEP Database under IMO guidance and works on container safety conventions including CSC and CTU Code.
• World Customs Organization (WCO)coreOthersBIC holds official observer status as an NGO at the WCO, working on customs-related container standards and trade facilitation.
• UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business)coreOthersBIC holds official observer status and works closely on container identification standards, geofencing guidelines, and supply chain facilitation initiatives.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)flagshipOthersBIC works closely with ISO, particularly TC 104 (Freight Containers) and TC 104 SC1. BIC codes are aligned with ISO 6346 and ISO 9897 standards.
• Quincy ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with BIC and leading lessors, carriers, banks, and legal experts to develop the Container Interest Register (CIR) platform for recording container-level ownership and security interests.
• IANA (Intermodal Association of North America)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association convening geofence review panels for North American facilities as part of the Global Container Geofence Library initiative.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Container Owners Association (COA): Industry body representing container owners and lessors that collaborates with BIC on safety, security, and standards; closely comparable as a non-profit membership organization serving the container shipping ecosystem.
• World Shipping Council (WSC): Industry association representing the global container liner shipping industry; comparable to BIC as a non-profit consortium promoting container industry standards, safety, and policy engagement.
• SMDG (Ship-planning Message Development Group): Standards organization that maintains Ocean Terminal Code database and operates a joint BIC-SMDG Facility Code API; directly comparable as a maritime standards body serving container terminals and ports.
• FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations): Global non-profit federation of freight forwarders and logistics providers, part of the Cargo Integrity Group alongside BIC; comparable as an international trade body promoting container and freight standards.
• UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business): UN body where BIC holds observer status; comparable as an international standards organization shaping container identification, geofencing, and supply chain facilitation rules used globally.
• ICHCA International: International Cargo Handling Coordination Association, a non-profit focused on cargo handling safety and standards; part of the same Cargo Integrity Group coalition as BIC and directly comparable in mission and scope.

Broad incumbents

• Clarksons Research: Shipping intelligence arm of Clarkson PLC providing global maritime data, analytics, and market research; comparable as a data infrastructure provider to the container shipping industry with deeper commercial orientation.
• Descartes Systems Group: Logistics technology vendor offering container tracking, EDI messaging, and customs filing solutions; comparable in providing digital infrastructure that integrates with container identification and shipping workflows.
• Drewry Maritime Research: Established maritime research and consultancy firm providing container shipping market intelligence and benchmarks; comparable as a data and standards-driven information provider serving the container shipping value chain.

Emerging players

• CargoSmart: Container shipping technology platform providing EDI solutions, vessel schedule data, and SOLAS VGM compliance tools for carriers and shippers; comparable as a digital infrastructure player for container shipping with overlapping customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bureau-international-des-containers-bic-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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