Abstract: A computerized exchange for trading container shipping contracts for the future physical transportation of cargo loaded inside a shipping container is provided that comprises an offer module capable of posting thousands of contracts for sale at an offer price published on the computerized exchange. The shipping exchange provides a matching module capable of simultaneously matching thousands of contracts offered on the computerized exchange to a corresponding bid and transform in the offers to purchased contracts. A settlement made capable of notifying carriers identified by the contracts of an obligation to physically transport cargo loaded into a shipping container according to the terms of the contracts is provided.