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Our Services
From standard container solutions to expert conversions, modifications, repairs and modular buildings – S Jones covers it all. We also provide industry-leading services for self-storage operators. Explore what’s possible by choosing a service on the left.
Shipping Containers for Sale
From small to large-scale storage, find the ideal shipping container to suit your needs at a competitive price.
Shipping Containers for Hire
Discover our huge range of storage containers for hire, plus welfare and workspace units that provide quick and easy site solutions.
Specialist Container Conversions
We’re a trusted provider of standard and bespoke container conversions, designed for industrial, commercial, and specialist applications.
Modular Buildings
Engineered for fast installation and long-term performance, our modular buildings provide flexible space solutions for every sector.
Shipping Container Modifications
From insulation to electrics and security upgrades, we provide tailored container modifications that transform standard units into practical, high-performance spaces.
Shipping Container Repairs
On-site container repairs and restoration that reduce downtime and save you money.
Standard Container Conversions
Discover our range of ready-made offices, chemical stores and topper containers - professionally converted, and available for rapid turnaround.
StoragePro
Container sales paired with expert support give you everything you need to start or grow a successful self storage site. Explore our Core, Plus and Ultimate packages and scale with confidence.
Shipping Container Finance
Take advantage of flexible finance options for bulk orders through Approved Business Finance. Your streamlined, stress-free purchase is only a click away.
When most people think of shipping containers, they picture creative conversion projects – container homes, stylish pop-up cafés, or practical office spaces. These conversions are now common across the UK, with businesses and individuals making use of strong, secure, and versatile steel boxes that were originally built for one purpose: shipping cargo across the globe.
But behind the innovation and design is a global transport system that depends on containers every single day. So, how many shipping containers are shipped each year – and why does this matter for UK businesses, storage, and conversions?
Before the standardised shipping container was introduced in the 1950s, transporting goods was inefficient. Items were loaded in barrels, sacks, and wooden crates of varying sizes. Ships often sat in port for weeks as goods were loaded and unloaded.
The invention of the standard steel shipping container changed everything. Strong, stackable, and uniform in size, containers made it possible to move goods seamlessly between ships, lorries, and trains. This created what we now know as intermodal transport.
The benefits included:
Today, containers are at the heart of international logistics – and modern supply chains could not exist without them.
Research shows that around 90% of global trade is transported in shipping containers, making them one of the most important inventions of the 20th century.
From electronics and clothing to building materials and food, most of what we consume in the UK has travelled in a container at some point.
Container trade flows are rarely balanced. For example, the UK imports more manufactured goods than it exports, meaning containers arrive in ports like Felixstowe, Southampton, and Liverpool and often remain here.
This surplus of empty shipping containers has created opportunities for alternative uses. Rather than sitting unused, many containers are repurposed for storage, business operations, or building projects.
In recent years, containers have become an affordable and sustainable solution for industries beyond transport. Some of the most popular applications include:
If you’re looking for container sales, hire, or conversion services in the UK, these options can offer flexible and cost-effective solutions.
When considering containers for storage, shipping, or conversion, the size is key. The most common options are:
Containers can also be customised with insulation, shelving, lighting, racking, and ventilation, making them adaptable to virtually any application.
For UK companies, containers are more than transport solutions. They are now part of daily business operations, offering:
By repurposing shipping containers, UK businesses are saving money, reducing waste, and creating versatile spaces that meet their needs.
You might ask: why should I care about global container shipping numbers? The answer is simple. The fact that millions of containers circulate worldwide means there is always a supply available here in the UK. That supply allows businesses, organisations, and individuals to benefit from cost-effective container sales, hire, and conversions.
Whether you’re a retailer looking for seasonal stock storage, a construction manager needing on-site welfare units, or a business exploring modular expansion, shipping containers provide a practical solution.
If you’ve been asking “how many shipping containers are shipped each year?” you now know the answer is in the hundreds of millions. But more importantly, containers could be the solution to your storage, shipping, or conversion needs here in the UK.
Our expert team can help you with:
Contact us to discuss your requirements and discover how a container can work for your project. We’ll ensure you find the right solution – whether that’s a simple storage hire or a fully customised conversion.
