[nonethewiser]

>While the US is importing less, stuff to the EU is taking the long way around Africa and that means more containers are needed.

OK, then the unavailability of containers is actually due to piracy in the middle east.

The US importing less, by itself, decreases the demand for containers.

[bluGill]

Both of those are factors. There are other factors neither one of us knows about (even if you are in ocean transport - your competitors are doing things they are hiding from you until they happen). How they balance out is not something I know, someone in the field likely has a reasonably good idea despite not knowing everything.

[nonethewiser]

Right, there are a ton of factors. But it would be wrong to suggest that decreased US exports would push container prices up.