Increased use of bamboo for container flooring

A recent survey by the Container Owners Association (COA) reveals that bamboo has emerged ahead of other alternative flooring systems such as plastic/composite and larch/birch hybrid, as the most popular in terms of availability and price – and is the only alternative to tropical hardwood plywood being produced in any significant volume. 

It is estimated that, in 2013, a total of 720,000 teu out of a total container production of 2.4m teu were fitted with bamboo floors, representing 30% of the year’s total dry container production and an increase on the previous year, when some 650,000 teu dry containers were fitted with bamboo floors.

The four principal suppliers of bamboo floors are based in China and their products are used in open top and 45ft European containers, as well as 20ft, 40ft and 40ft HC dry boxes.