Monroe, North Carolina isn’t a port city. It’s not even on most logistics professionals’ radar. Yet this town of 37,000 people, just outside Charlotte, has just become home to a new global player in shipping container solutions. When CHS Container Group – a German family business with clients like Siemens, Walmart and Bechtel – chose Monroe as its second major U.S. facility within twelve months, it showed something happening in the logistics world.
The company’s decision reflects a growing trend amongst global shipping container firms: bypassing the crowded coastal hubs for inland locations that offer lower costs, better access to regional markets and more room to grow.
Why Monroe Made the Cut
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CHS Container Group’s choice of Monroe wasn’t random. ‘Our site selection process brought us to communities across the Southeast, and Monroe consistently stood out,’ said Christian Leopold, Managing Director at CHS Container Group. ‘We found not only strong logistics infrastructure and growth potential, but a workforce and local leadership committed to building long-term partnerships.’
The industrial infrastructure in Monroe includes approximately 477,000 square feet of warehouse and manufacturing space, supported by access to highways, rail connections and regional airports. Local businesses range from precision manufacturers like LA Simpson Machine Company to chemical processing firms like Goulston Technologies – exactly the types of companies that need flexible storage and workspace solutions.
The company expects to create 30 jobs over the next five years at its 2203 Stafford Street Extended facility, which became operational immediately and serves businesses throughout the Carolinas by appointment.
The Economics of Going Inland
The move to secondary markets makes financial sense for both container companies and their customers. Commercial warehouse rental costs in the Charlotte region typically range from $14 to $20 per square foot annually for traditional space. Container solutions offer a different equation entirely.
‘As brick-and-mortar costs continue to rise, shipping containers can offer local businesses flexible space without the burden of traditional real estate,’ said Bill Franzke, General Manager at CHS Container Group USA. ‘Every dollar a local business saves on storage or rent is a dollar they can reinvest elsewhere.’
Container modifications typically cost between $93 to $156 per square foot compared to traditional construction at $238 to $286 per square foot. For businesses needing storage, workshops or even temporary office space, the savings can be substantial. The warehouse space considerations that many smaller companies face make these modular alternatives particularly attractive.
Beyond Storage: The Container Development
The Monroe facility houses an extensive inventory of new and used containers in various sizes, along with popular modifications including doors, windows, ventilation systems and electrical installations. Once retired from global trade, these containers find new life as storage units, workshops, offices and other modular buildings.
The shipping container modification market is projected to reach $18.6 billion by 2032, with storage applications accounting for about 35% of market revenue. The Southeast has become a particular growth area, driven by expanding manufacturing and e-commerce sectors that need flexible, cost-effective space solutions. Like modular building methods in housing, container conversions offer speed and cost advantages over conventional construction.
For Monroe’s diverse industrial community – which includes life sciences manufacturing, CNC machining, titanium processing and industrial contracting – container modifications offer scalable solutions that can grow with their businesses without long-term property commitments.
Global Company, Local Approach
CHS Container Group’s rapid U.S. expansion shows how international logistics companies are approaching the American market. Founded in 1978 as a family business in Bremen, Germany, the company has grown into a global organisation with operations in over ten countries and more than 400 employees worldwide.
Their North American efforts moved quickly: establishing their first U.S. depot in Memphis last year, moving over 15,000 containers, and now opening in Monroe with plans for further expansion. This isn’t the coastal-first approach that characterised earlier waves of international logistics investment.
Monroe represents positioning for both urban Charlotte access and rural Carolina markets. Major global container companies like Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM are similarly investing in inland terminals and regional logistics hubs to reduce port congestion and improve supply chain resilience.
The approach reflects what Leopold calls aligning ‘with the priorities and best interests of the Monroe community’ – bringing international expertise whilst building local partnerships rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model.
What This Means for Southeast Businesses
For business decision-makers in the region, the arrival of internationally-backed container services in smaller markets opens new possibilities. Local manufacturers and logistics companies now have access to flexible space solutions without committing to traditional real estate leases or construction projects.
The timing aligns with economic pressures. Rising commercial property costs, supply chain disruptions and the need for adaptable business infrastructure have made container solutions increasingly attractive. Whether for overflow inventory, seasonal storage, temporary workspace during expansion or permanent facilities, containers offer modularity that traditional buildings can’t match.
CHS’s investment in Monroe – with an initial $150,000 and mid-term expansion plans – suggests confidence in both the local market and the trend towards decentralised logistics networks. As international shipping companies develop inland terminals and regional hubs, secondary markets like Monroe become assets rather than afterthoughts.
Local businesses now have an internationally-backed route for affordable, flexible space – right where they need it, without the premium prices of major metropolitan markets. CHS is betting that local relationships and flexible solutions will prove more valuable than prestigious addresses, and Monroe is their testing ground for that theory.
