ZIM Shipping Stock Proves Unsinkable Despite Red Sea Disruptions

 | Jan 17, 2024 12:37PM ET

  • Israel-based ZIM Shipping shares have risen 36% year-to-date (YTD) despite the Red Sea disruptions from Houthi attacks on shipping vessels.
  • Spot freight rates from China to some European destinations have skyrocketed up to 133%.
  • ZIM Shipping has a 24.79% short interest.

    • The Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have caused widespread disruptions and economic ramifications for the transportation sector, with cargo and dry bulk shipping and oil/energy sector comprised of the oil and gas industry impacting global trade supply chains. The Red Sea plays a crucial role in the transportation of oil and gas and is a vital artery for global trade.

    Ships that are avoiding the Red Sea are rerouting their vessels around the horn of Africa, adding extensive fuel and insurance costs of upwards of $1 million per round trip. Insurance premiums for vessels transporting through the Red Sea have shot up 10X.

    h2 Supply chain disruptions/h2

    The Suez Canal is the shortest distance between Europe and Asia, amounting to nearly 15% of the world's shipping traffic transit. The disruptions will cost the global economy billions. Recently, electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) announced it has to shut down production for at least two weeks at its Gigafactory in Berlin, Germany, due to supply chain issues causing a lack of components for its Model Y production stemming from the disruptions in the Red Sea.

    h2 Disruption boosting stock prices/h2

    With this much trouble, it would be easy to assume that shipping company stocks are in the toilet. Wrong. Many of these stocks are trading near their 52-week highs like Navios Maritime Partners (NYSE:NMM), Golden Ocean Group (NASDAQ:GOGL) and tankers like Frontline (NYSE:FRO) trading up 10.4% year-to-date (YTD) and International Seaways (NYSE:INSW) trading near 52-week highs at $51.96 and up 12.3% YTD. The company that really stands out with a 36.3% YTD gain is ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd (NYSE:ZIM).

    h2 More risk equals higher shipping rates/h2

    Spot freight rates from China to various European destinations have nearly doubled in 2024 due to the disruptions caused by the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. These higher rates are expected to last through the annual freight contract renegotiations in February 2024. The Drewry’s World Container index anticipates rates to accelerate heading into the Chinese New Year holiday, which lasts from Feb. 10, 2024, and continues for 15 days, concluding on Feb. 24, 2024. ZIM has stated it was fully exposed to spot prices.

    h2 U.S and UK, retaliation attacks/h2

    On Jan. 11, 2024, the U.S. and U.K. have begun retaliating against the Houthis. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that three U.S. destroyers and F-18s and a British warship were noted to have shot down 18 drones and a number of missiles launched from Houthi areas in Yemen. The U.S. has collaborated with several countries to launch a maritime task force called Operation Prosperity Guardian to patrol the Red Sea to curb the Houthi attacks, which haven’t stopped.

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    It was reported on Jan. 12, 2024, that an IRGC spy ship, Behshad, which is responsible for providing the Houthis with real-time intelligence enabling the Houthis to target ships that have gone silent, was spotted leaving the Red Sea en route back to Iran. The retaliations could resolve the attacks or escalate the situation. If the Red Sea disruptions get resolved by negotiations, ZIM could suffer from oversupply issues causing shares to drop. Further disruptions may cause the stock to short squeeze higher since it has a 24.79% short interest.