How is the cost of transporting empty containers to your terminal calculated, and who arranges the transportation?

Transportation to our terminal is organized through our network of trusted transport partners. The most common routes originate from Moscow and St. Petersburg, although we can also arrange transport from other regions. Each quotation is prepared individually and depends on: ● Route ● Container type ● Required additional services Upon request, we provide a detailed cost breakdown covering all transportation expenses.

Do you offer discounts for customers who regularly consolidate more than 100 TEU per month? Does higher volume receive priority when assembling outbound rail shipments?

Rail shipment scheduling is not prioritized based on the number of containers stored at the terminal. However, customers handling more than 100 TEU per month may qualify for individually negotiated commercial terms, including preferential storage rates and long-term pricing agreements.

How do you ensure the security of seals and locking devices while empty containers are stored at your terminal?

Every empty container undergoes a visual inspection upon arrival. The inspection records its actual condition, including the presence of security seals and locking devices. In practice, most empty containers arrive without seals. If a container is received with an existing seal, its presence is documented during acceptance. Any seal removal is performed only with the authorization of the container owner or their designated representative.

Can space on outbound rail services to China be reserved when the empty container is delivered to your terminal?

Rail bookings are not made automatically when containers arrive at the terminal. However, our Export Department accepts shipping requests and coordinates all communication with railway operators on behalf of our customers. This allows clients to arrange onward transportation through a single point of contact without having to negotiate separately with rail carriers.

Empty Container Consolidation: How to Reduce Empty Repositioning Costs

Empty repositioning—the movement of empty shipping containers—is one of the largest operating expenses for container carriers. On the China–Europe trade route, where exports from Asia significantly exceed imports, repositioning empty containers can account for 20–30% of operational budgets.

Empty containers must be returned to Asia to support export demand, but unlike loaded shipments, these moves generate little or no direct revenue. As a result, every unnecessary kilometer increases logistics costs.

Why Empty Repositioning Becomes So Expensive

A container’s journey does not end when it is unloaded in Europe.

Once cargo has been delivered, the empty container must re-enter the supply chain and eventually return to Asia.

The challenge is that containers are dispersed across a wide geographic area—from major Western European ports to inland terminals throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

When each freight forwarder independently transports empty containers to the nearest rail terminal, inefficiencies quickly emerge:

● Trucks often operate below full capacity.

● Small groups of containers become scattered across multiple depots.

● Rail terminals struggle to assemble full outbound trains.

Instead of one efficient logistics flow, the return journey is divided into numerous short, costly repositioning moves.

The total cost of returning a single TEU to China therefore becomes the sum of many inefficient transport segments.

Why Consolidation Is the Most Cost-Effective Solution

Modern logistics depends on efficient consolidation rather than fragmented transportation.

Instead of repositioning every empty container individually, shipping lines, leasing companies, and logistics operators increasingly consolidate equipment at strategically located logistics hubs.

Belarus, thanks to its geographic location and well-developed railway infrastructure, has become an ideal consolidation point for empty containers moving back to Asia.

Benefits of a Centralized Container Hub

Lower Transportation Costs Through Consolidation

Moving larger container volumes creates economies of scale.

Instead of transporting individual containers from Poland, Lithuania, Germany, or neighboring countries, shipments are combined into larger batches.

This improves vehicle utilization and significantly reduces the transportation cost per TEU.

Direct Connection to China Rail Services

At First Minsk Terminal, empty containers are not simply stored—they are accumulated until sufficient volumes are available to assemble outbound rail shipments to China.

This approach offers several advantages:

● Reduced waiting times

● Fewer intermediate handling operations

● Lower risk of transportation damage

● More predictable departure schedules

More Efficient Container Preparation

Containers returning from Europe rarely arrive in perfect condition.

When an entire fleet is consolidated in one location, it becomes much more economical to maintain permanent repair teams and container cleaning facilities than to rely on individual service providers across multiple European countries.

This lowers both repair costs and equipment downtime.

How Container Consolidation Works at First Minsk Terminal

At First Minsk Terminal, empty container consolidation is a fully integrated operation.

We accept empty containers from multiple owners while maintaining complete visibility and traceability for every unit.

Each arriving container is:

● Registered in our management system

● Inspected upon arrival

● Assessed for its technical condition

During the storage period, our specialists prepare containers for their next journey to Asia.

Services include:

● Repairing structural damage

● Cleaning containers

● Removing cargo residues where necessary

● Checking watertight integrity

As a result, customers receive containers that are fully prepared for immediate loading at their destination in China—not simply empty equipment waiting in storage.

Turn Empty Repositioning into a Predictable Process

Although empty repositioning cannot be eliminated, it can be transformed from an unpredictable expense into a controlled and transparent logistics process.

By consolidating empty container fleets in Minsk, shipping lines, leasing companies, and international freight forwarders benefit from:

● Lower repositioning costs

● More efficient fleet management

● Faster return of equipment to Asia

● Reduced repair and maintenance expenses

● Improved operational planning

Partner with First Minsk Terminal

We work with:

● Shipping lines

● Container leasing companies

● International freight forwarders

● Logistics operators

● Fleet owners

Our team is ready to manage the consolidation of your empty container fleet and organize its efficient return to China.

Contact Information

Terminal Locations

● 15A Aerodromnaya Street, Machulishchi Airfield, Minsk Region, Belarus

● 39 Bratyev Vaynrub Street, Borisov, Belarus

Dispatch Office

Phone: +375 333 888 112

Email: Minskdepot@mycontainers.ru

Customer Relations Manager – Vladislav

Phone: +7 (912) 251-37-46 (WhatsApp & Viber)

Email: bv@mgcorporation.org