Where and How to Buy Container Ships: Why China Is The Best Choice Today ?

In the ever-evolving global shipping industry, container ships remain a cornerstone of international trade. For small and medium-sized logistics companies and investment firms looking to expand their fleets or enter the maritime market, purchasing container ships is a strategic move.

However, the decision of where and how to buy these vessels can significantly impact your return on investment. This blog explores why China stands out as the premier market for purchasing container ships.

How Chinese ship trading platform: VesselsLink, can streamline the process while offering unparalleled advantages.  

With the lifting of the epidemic lockdown, international trade is gradually recovering, and the growth of maritime transportation business continues to drive the trade of second-hand ships.

The traditional second-hand ship trading market remains in China, Japan, and South Korea. Due to the price advantage of Chinese ships and the rapidly improving ship quality in the past decade, more and more international buyers and sellers are seeking China as a second-hand ship trading market.

We evaluated from multiple dimension such as the number of vessel transactions, transaction amount, services provided, market reputation and so on.

The global shipping market is experiencing a familiar turbulence: BDI volatility, sudden cargo surges on key routes like Shanghai-US (“space sold out until June”), and geopolitical policy shifts.

Yet beneath this surface chaos, a clear trend has emerged—international owners are decisively returning to Chinese shipyards** for both newbuilding and premium secondhand vessels. 

Global shipowners face a fragmented market: Trump’s tariffs squeeze supply chains, U.S. port fees target China-built vessels, and Red Sea disruptions amplify rate volatility. Yet beneath these headwinds, a strategic shift is unfolding— China’s shipbuilding dominance and a booming secondhand market offer stability and value. Here’s why global operators are turning eastward.