Chinese New Year Shipping 2026 — Factory Closures & Supply Chain Guide

Key Dates & Actions

1 December 2025

Start placing pre-CNY orders

Place your final orders with Chinese suppliers now to ensure production completes and goods ship before factory closures begin in January.

15 December 2025

Last order placement for pre-CNY sea freight

If shipping by sea freight (30–40 day transit to Europe), this is your last practical opportunity for orders to arrive before late February.

5 January 2026

Last air freight orders before CNY

Air freight from China to Europe: 3–7 days. Last orders for air freight that will ship before factory closures.

10 January 2026

Factory closures begin

Early-closing factories begin shutdowns. Confirm with each of your suppliers their exact closure date — varies widely.

17 January 2026

Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse)

Official Spring Festival. All factories, freight forwarders and Chinese customs offices closed. No exports.

25 January 2026

Factories begin gradual reopening

Some factories reopen from 25 January — but many workers return late. Expect 50–70% workforce for first 2 weeks of February.

10 February 2026

Most factories at full capacity

Majority of Chinese factories back at full production capacity. This is when you should expect your first post-CNY orders to ship.

March 2026

Post-CNY backlog clears

Sea freight and air freight capacity returns to normal. Chinese export volumes spike — book freight capacity in advance.

Last Dispatch Deadlines

Dispatch by these dates for guaranteed pre-season delivery. Times are estimates — always confirm with your carrier for binding cut-offs.

Service	Carrier	Destination	Last dispatch	Notes
Sea Freight (FCL)	All ocean carriers	Europe (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Barcelona)	28 Dec 2025	~30–35 day transit. Order must be produced and loaded before factory closure.
Sea Freight (LCL)	All ocean carriers	Europe	22 Dec 2025	LCL consolidation adds 7–10 days vs FCL
Air Freight Express	DHL Express / FedEx	Europe	8 Jan 2026	3–7 day air transit. Factory must still be operational.
Air Freight Economy	DHL Economy / UPS Worldwide	Europe	5 Jan 2026	7–12 day air economy. Allow extra time for Chinese export customs.
Rail Freight (China–Europe)	Yiwu / Zhengzhou rail	Germany, Poland, Spain	3 Jan 2026	~18–22 day transit via Silk Road. Rail bookings fill up fast before CNY.
Post-CNY First Shipments	DHL Express / FedEx	Europe	From 28 Jan 2026	Early factories may resume 25–28 Jan. Confirm with supplier.
Post-CNY Sea Freight	All ocean carriers	Europe	From 10 Feb 2026	First full post-CNY sea departures — expect higher rates and limited space.

Cut-off dates are indicative for 2025/2026. Actual carrier deadlines are published 4–6 weeks before each peak season — check carrier websites for confirmed dates.

Carrier peak season info

DHL Express

Peak surcharge: CNY surcharge Jan–Feb: €1.00–€2.50

DHL Express maintains China–Europe air operations during CNY but volumes are low. Chinese domestic DHL pickup suspended during factory closures.

Best for urgent post-CNY shipments when factories start reopening. Pre-book capacity for February — demand spikes as factories reopen.

FedEx International Priority

Peak surcharge: CNY surcharge: varies

FedEx International Priority maintains China–Europe service through CNY. Memphis hub advantage for USA-bound Chinese goods.

Good option for post-CNY air freight. FedEx has strong relationships with Chinese freight forwarders.

UPS Worldwide Express

Peak surcharge: CNY surcharge applies

UPS Express maintains China operations. Post-CNY capacity books up quickly — reserve space in advance.

Good for B2B post-CNY shipments. Pre-negotiate capacity for February–March post-CNY rush.

Ocean Carriers (Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM)

Peak surcharge: General Rate Increase (GRI) Jan–Feb

Sea freight rates typically increase 20–40% in post-CNY weeks as demand spikes. Book in November–December for best rates.

Book post-CNY sea freight capacity as early as October–November. Spot rates can double in the weeks immediately after CNY.

Peak season packing tips

→For goods shipped from China before CNY, insist on higher packaging standards — Chinese factory workers are rushing to complete orders before the holiday and quality control can slip in the final days.
→Request pre-shipment inspection (PSI) for any large orders shipped in the 2 weeks before CNY — third-party inspection agencies like SGS or Bureau Veritas can inspect before goods leave the factory.
→When receiving post-CNY shipments, increase incoming quality inspection — the first 2 weeks of production after Chinese workers return often have higher defect rates as teams settle back in.
→Label all CNY stock clearly with 'DO NOT OPEN UNTIL [DATE]' if you're staging inventory for a planned promotion — prevents warehouse staff from mixing new and old stock.
→For perishables or temperature-sensitive products from China, avoid scheduling shipment during the CNY closure window — temperature monitoring may lapse during the holiday period in Chinese warehouses.
→Ensure your Chinese freight forwarder confirms their own operating dates over CNY — some forwarders close earlier or later than the factories. Get written confirmation of their shutdown and reopening dates.

Common peak season mistakes — and how to avoid them

✗ Assuming factories reopen on CNY +7 days at full capacity

✓ Many workers travel to their home provinces and take additional days off. Expect 50–70% workforce for the first 2 weeks after CNY. Build a 2–3 week production delay buffer into your post-CNY supply plan.

✗ Not confirming each supplier's individual closure dates

✓ CNY closure dates vary by province, factory, and year. Guangdong factories often close earlier than Beijing factories. Email each supplier in November to confirm their exact shutdown and reopen dates.

✗ Booking sea freight too late for pre-CNY shipments

✓ Sea freight from China to Europe takes 30–35 days. For goods to arrive before late February, your order must be shipped by late December at the latest — meaning production must complete by mid-December.

✗ Not pre-booking post-CNY air freight capacity

✓ Post-CNY air freight demand spikes as businesses rush to restock. Capacity fills up quickly and rates can double. Book your post-CNY air freight slots in November–December for February delivery.

✗ Running stock to zero during the CNY closure window

✓ Plan for a minimum 6–8 week stock buffer for your fastest-moving China-sourced products. CNY closures (2–3 weeks) plus post-CNY production ramp-up (1–2 weeks) plus shipping time (1–5 weeks) = 4–10 weeks total lead time extension.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Chinese factories close for Chinese New Year 2026?

Chinese New Year 2026 falls on 17 January. Most factories begin closing from approximately 10 January 2026, with the official national holiday running 17–23 January (7 days). However, many workers take additional days for travel, meaning factories in manufacturing provinces (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu) effectively close from 10–12 January and reopen between 25 January and 10 February 2026, depending on the factory.

What is the last date to place an order for pre-CNY shipping from China?

For sea freight (30–35 days to Europe): place orders by 1 December 2025 to ensure production completes and goods ship before factory closures. For air freight (3–7 days): last orders by 5–8 January 2026 if your supplier's factory is still operational. Always confirm your specific supplier's last production date — it varies significantly.

Can I still ship from China during Chinese New Year?

Most Chinese factories are closed during CNY (approximately 10 January to 1–10 February 2026). Major freight forwarders and customs offices in China also close for the national holiday week (17–23 January). DHL Express, FedEx and UPS maintain limited Chinese operations, but there is minimal cargo to collect. A small number of international factories and bonded warehouses near major ports may operate.

How much do shipping rates increase around Chinese New Year?

Sea freight rates typically increase 20–40% in the weeks immediately after CNY as demand spikes when factories reopen. Air freight surcharges add €1–€2.50 per kg. The best strategy: lock in sea freight rates for post-CNY shipments in October–November, before demand pushes rates up. Carriers typically publish post-CNY rate increases (General Rate Increases / GRIs) in December.

What should I do if my Chinese supplier misses the pre-CNY production deadline?

If your supplier cannot complete production before CNY closures: (1) Accept partial shipment of completed goods now, remainder post-CNY. (2) Switch to air freight for post-CNY delivery to reduce the lead time. (3) Plan for a 4–8 week stock gap and communicate proactively with customers about delays. (4) For future years, build 4–6 weeks more lead time into your CNY supply plan.

Are there alternatives to Chinese suppliers during CNY?

For repeat orders of standard products, consider maintaining a secondary supplier in Vietnam, Bangladesh, India or Turkey who can supply during CNY periods. This dual-sourcing strategy is increasingly common among European importers who have learned the hard way about CNY stock-outs. It also protects against Chinese Section 301 tariff exposure for US-market goods.

Chinese New Year 2026 Shipping Deadlines