Exports all over the world today are more than 40 times larger than in 1913.
This whole process of extraordinary growth and scale on an international level has exploded over the last centuries and can be referred to as globalization.
International trade growth from 1800–2014 measured in the value of global exports. *Time series of value of world exports at constant prices, relative to 1913. Values correspond to world export volumes indexed at 1913 = 100.
Trade monopoliesThe three major container trade routes — Trans-Pacific, Europe-Asia-Europe and Transatlantic — are controlled by a small number of key players.
Their competitive race of arms produces bigger and bigger container ships each year with capacities of almost 24.000 TEUs per trip today.
Estimated container throughput on major trade routes in million TEUs, 2019.→ Trans-Pacific 30M → Europe-Asia-Europe 25M → Translatlantic 8M *
Redistribution of global powerThis also resulted in an increased overseas trade of the West with the East. China suddenly rose as a major global player by offering cheap production methods for the West.
Over a short period of time China manifested as a new industrial super power.
Countries with the most TEUs passing through their ports in 2017 from land to sea and vice versa. *
Anything you use, buy, consume — even the
device you are watching this documentary on — was part of a worldwide logistical network of intermodal transport.
7 Synopsis
Containers everywhereContainers have become part of our lives and culture. They are used and repurposed in many ways.
Architectural container structures in Belfast,
United Kingdom and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Next time you see a container driving in front of you on a truck, think of it as one piece in a massive worldwide logistical system of transport, sales, economy and consumption.
Think of the container as a parable. Think of it as a physical manifestation.
A physical manifestation of our globalized world.
sources & further reading
Printed & online publications
Giovanni, Federico, and Tena-Junguito, Antonio. A tale of two globalizations: gains from trade and openness 1800-2010. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research, 2016.
Kemp, J. F. and Young, P.. Notes on Cargo Work.
London: Stanford Maritime, 1971.
Levinson, Marc. The Box: How the Shipping Container
Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger. Princeton, New Jersey / Woodstock, Oxfordshire: Princeton University Press, 2006.
This project was made with the intention to make information accessible and share knowledge to a wider audience. If you have questions ideas or notice something you'd like to discuss about feel free to conctact me.
source: archives.gov
Time series of value of world exports at constant prices, relative to 1913. Values correspond to world export volumes indexed at 1913 = 100.
Moved goods measured in tonnes.
