Predict fleet rotations, avoid overexposure to weakening trades, and prepare to capitalize as conditions improve.

At their core, shipping cycles are driven by the market’s constant struggle to balance vessel supply with global cargo demand – an equilibrium that is rarely sustained. This imbalance stems from a structural mismatch: global trade patterns can shift rapidly, while fleet expansion typically takes years from order to delivery.

Understanding how this pattern plays out in practice requires a closer look at past cycles, and few illustrate the mechanics of boom and bust as vividly as the 2003–2008 ‘Champagne Supercycle.’

Read the Market Insights report to explore:

• A look back at the three main shipping cycles from the 1990s onward
• An overview of the shipping cycle stages and the typical signs that reveal the current stage
• Tools for navigating cycles with a greater degree of foresight and agility

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About the authors

Matt Freeman, VP of Valuation & Analytics

Matthew leads a dynamic team of experts with oversight of the automated valuation model and the commercial data set that underpins it. The team is responsible for the handling of client queries as well as the production of bespoke and automated reports.

Matthew is a founding VesselsValue employee and prior to the acquisition of VessleValue by Veson Nautical in 2022, was the Chief Commercial Officer. He is a codirector of Seasure Shipbroking and has been an active shipbroker since 2007, bringing deep expertise in maritime asset valuation.

Felix Tordoff, Junior Valuation Analyst

Felix Tordoff is a Junior Maritime Analyst within the Valuation & Analytics team at Veson Nautical. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics & International Relations from Newcastle University, UK.

Before joining Veson, Felix spent four years in the security sector, focusing on maritime risk and geopolitical analysis in African markets.