The off-season and peak season rules .
Europe:
Peak season: Usually from July to October each year is the peak season. During this period, economic activities in Europe are relatively active, people’s consumption demand increases, and some large-scale promotional activities and festivals (such as seasonal purchases in late summer, the start of the school season, etc.) are approaching, and merchants need to prepare goods in advance, so the import demand for Chinese goods has increased greatly. In addition, the shipping period from China to Europe is relatively long, and merchants often need to arrange cargo transportation in advance, which will drive up the demand for sea transportation.
Off-season: Generally, it is from November to around March of the following year. The climate in some parts of Europe is cold in winter, economic activities are relatively slow, and consumer demand decreases. Moreover, the end of the year and the beginning of the year are usually the period for companies to take inventory and plan, and there are relatively few new orders and procurement activities, so the demand for sea transportation will also decrease accordingly.
Americas (including North America and South America):
Peak season: The peak season of the North American market is generally concentrated from June to October each year. These months are summer and autumn in countries such as the United States and Canada. People’s outdoor activities increase and consumer demand is strong, such as the demand for outdoor products, home decoration, electronic products and other commodities, which drives the import of Chinese goods. In addition, some important festivals such as the United States’ Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November), and Christmas (December 25) are concentrated in the second half of the year. Merchants need to prepare goods in advance, so there is a large demand for sea transportation from China to North America in these months. The peak season of the South American market is relatively unfixed, but it usually starts to enter the peak season around September each year and lasts until the end of the year. This is because some countries in South America have important festivals and promotions at the end of the year, and merchants need to import goods in advance.
Off-season: The off-season of the North American market is usually around January to April each year. The beginning of the year is the budget and planning period for enterprises, the consumer market is relatively quiet, and the demand for sea transportation is also reduced accordingly. The off-season of the South American market is generally around March to June each year. During this period, there are relatively few economic activities in South America and the demand for imported goods is also low.
Asia (China exports to other parts of Asia):
Peak season: Trade within Asia is relatively frequent, and the peak season time is relatively unfixed, but generally speaking, March to May and September to November are relatively peak seasons. March to May is spring, when companies in many countries start new production and sales plans, and the demand for raw materials and finished products increases; September to November is autumn, which is also the peak sales season and festival concentration period in some countries, such as Japan’s autumn promotions and South Korea’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which will drive demand for Chinese goods and increase demand for sea transportation.
Off-season: January to February and June to August are relatively off-seasons. January to February is the Chinese New Year period, and domestic production and logistics will be affected to a certain extent, and exports will be relatively reduced; June to August is the summer high temperature period and rainy season in many parts of Asia, and the production and consumption of some industries will be suppressed to a certain extent, and the demand for sea transportation will also decrease accordingly.
Africa:
Peak season: The peak season of the African market is generally from October to January of the following year. This period is the dry season in Africa, with a relatively suitable climate and relatively active economic activities. It is also the concentrated period of festivals and celebrations in some countries, such as Christmas and New Year. Merchants will import goods in advance to meet consumer demand during the festival.
Off-season: The off-season is from February to September every year. During these months, the climate in some parts of Africa is hot and humid, or it is in the rainy season, which is not conducive to the transportation and storage of goods. There are relatively few economic activities and the demand for imported goods is also low.
Oceania:
Peak season: The peak season is from November to February of the following year. This period is the summer in Oceania, when people’s consumption demand increases. It is also the concentrated period of some important festivals, such as Christmas and New Year’s Day in Australia. Merchants need to prepare goods in advance, so there is a large demand for imports of Chinese goods.
Off-season: The off-season is from March to October every year. The climate in Oceania has gradually become cooler in recent months, economic activities have slowed down relatively, and the demand for imported goods will also decrease.
