Definitions #
A standard measure for containerized cargo, equal to one forty-foot shipping container, used in freight rates and vessel capacity stats.
Technical A unit of measurement equal to a 40-foot ISO container's capacity (1 FEU ≈ 2 TEUs); used to normalize ocean freight rates, fleet capacities, and port throughput.
Etymology #
Acronym coined in the container shipping industry from 'forty-foot equivalent unit', modeled after TEU.
Collocations #
- per FEU rate 每FEU费率，报价常用的集装箱单价（如每40尺箱运价）
- FEU throughput FEU吞吐量，港口统计集装箱处理量时使用的单位
Real Business Examples #
- The ocean freight quote for a 40-foot dry container from Shanghai to Rotterdam is US$3,200 per FEU.
- In 2024, the terminal reached 4.5 million FEU of annual throughput.
Register & Variants #
- Register: neutral
- BrE/AmE: 全球通用，行业缩写
Synonyms & Antonyms #
- Synonyms: 40-ft container, forty-foot equivalent unit
- Antonyms: TEU
Common Errors #
- Assuming 1 FEU always equals exactly 2 TEU in pricing. In many trades, an FEU rate is less than twice a TEU rate because of consolidated handling and larger volumes. Always check tariff or contract for the actual multiple.
- Using FEU for cargo weight or volume calculation instead of TEU the same way. Use the correct capacity of the container type (e.g., a 40' HC has more volume than two 20' units). FEU is a standard unit for capacity, but actual payload varies.
Confusable Terms #
- TEU vs FEU
- TEU is a 20-foot equivalent unit; FEU is twice the length of one TEU, but not always equal in payload or volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is FEU used more often than TEU in rate publications??
Because many international trades (especially US and transpacific) predominantly use 40' containers, making FEU a more practical basis for quoting and comparing rates.
Can I mix TEU and FEU in one shipment??
Yes, a booking can include both sizes; the carrier will usually quote a split rate for each unit size.
How do I convert vessel capacity from FEU to TEU??
Multiply the number of FEUs by 2 to get approximate TEU capacity (e.g., 10,000 FEU = 20,000 TEU nominal).
Published: 2026-09-25 Category: Shipping