Understanding SEASONALITY is a crucial aspect of shipping investing. And as many shipping equities have been correcting recently, it seems like a good time to zoom out and consider where we are within the annual cycle of each shipping sector.
To my surprise, there seems to be no comprehensive text on the topic which deals with all shipping sectors. Below is Part 1 of a work in progress.
I start each section by listing which two quarters are strongest and which two are weakest, for each shipping sector. The quarter with an asterisk* is typically the strongest.
The timing of your buys will always be a judgment call, and therefore nuanced. But as you rebalance your portfolio, it helps to know whether seasonality will be a headwind or tailwind, depending on what month it is.
Each text is an excerpt from a company’s filings or presentations. I link to the source for each. Because seasonality is a perennial phenomenon, it was amusing to read texts from 20 years ago, in some cases, which are still relevant.
One final note: It’s 9 July, i.e. the very beginning of Q3.
Please keep this in mind as you read.
Let’s jump in.