Limited Time Offer: Get $100 Off Per Container
About Denver, CO
Though not a coastal city, Denver serves as a major inland distribution hub, handling goods moving between the West Coast and central United States. Denver’s population of 3.1 million partnered with its diversified economy in construction, energy, aerospace, logistics, and technology make it a growing Western market. Anchored by Port Colorado, the only mixed-use, multi-modal inland port in the Western United States it links air, rail, and highway freight through I-70, I-25, and proximity to DEN and major rail yards.
Its role as a central Mountain West distribution hub, similar in function to the Port of Salt Lake on I-80, drives steady inbound flows of consumer goods, metals, autos, and materials, and outbound shipments of agricultural, manufactured, and aerospace products.
This intermodal connectivity allows empty or decommissioned containers from coastal ports to be redeployed locally rather than returned empty, fueling a consistent secondary container supply. Seasonal spikes in April–October, tied to construction, events, and retail inventory build-ups, combine with year-round industrial, warehousing, and municipal storage needs to create a robust, diversified buyer base that sustains the used-container market and moderates off-season demand dips.
Industry Snapshot for Denver, Colorado
Metropolitan Population
The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area has a population of approximately 3.1 million people as of 2024. Making it the largest metro area in Colorado & top 20 most populous in the U.S.
Major Employers
UCHealth, Centura Health, Lockheed Martin, Kaiser Permanente, Ball Corporation, Charles Schwab, DISH Network, Comcast, State of Colorado and City & County of Denver, and King Soopers.
Imports & Exports
- Denver’s exports are valued at around $8–9 billion annually.
- Key exports include aerospace components, machinery, electronics, medical devices, and agricultural products.
- Imports are driven by demand for consumer goods, electronics, and industrial equipment, with significant volumes entering by rail and air.
Intermodal System
- Denver is a regional freight and logistics center due to its central location.
- BNSF & Union Pacific rail lines provide direct connections to Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland Ports. Major interstate highways (I25, I70, I76) intersect the metro area, enabling strong trucking logistics.
- The region includes intermodal terminals that handle containerized freight arriving by rail and transferred to truck.
What We Love about Denver, CO
Beautiful mountain ranges, great ski slopes, rafting, and hiking, Denver, Colorado is home to nearly 800,000 people and was named the best place to live in the US in 2016. Located at an altitude of 5250 feet (1,609.34 meters) above sea level, Denver, CO is the highest populated mountain city in the United States.
Port Colorado is the only mixed-use, multi-modal inland port in the Western United States. The 6,500-acre master-planned mixed-use development will include unique campus opportunities for large-scale light and heavy industrial users, with the ability to maximize Transmodal opportunities including air, rail, and ground connectivity.
In Colorado, containers are widely used across various industries, from shipping and logistics to construction and agriculture. Shipping containers are repurposed for storage, housing, and even businesses, as they are durable and cost-effective. Many rural areas use them for agricultural purposes, such as storing equipment or food products. Additionally, Colorado's growing eco-conscious population has seen a rise in the use of repurposed containers for sustainable living, with some residents opting for container homes. The versatility and affordability of containers make them an essential tool for a variety of practical applications in the state.