Chinese New Year falls on the 17th of February 2026, this is typically followed by a two week shutdown across much of China. Therefore, this is a good time to review planning to minimise any potential disruption to your supply chain during this period.

Effective planning is particularly important around Chinese New Year, as a number of factors can impact the movement of goods, including:

  • Shipping delays – Many factories and businesses reduce or suspend operations during the holiday, which can delay production and outbound shipments.
  • Port congestion – A surge in cargo ahead of the holiday often leads to congestion at origin ports, followed by a further spike once operations resume.
  • Container availability – Increased demand, slower container returns, and reduced or blank sailings can result in limited space and container shortages.
  • Increased freight costs – Higher demand before and after the holiday can place upward pressure on rates, with congestion also increasing the riskof storage and demurrage charges.
  • Supply chain disruption – Temporary factory closures can interrupt the flow of raw materials and finished goods.
  • Labour shortages – Large numbers of workers travel home for the holiday, which can slow production, handling, and logistics operations.
  • Extended lead times – Orders placed close to the holiday period may be subject to longer lead times due to production and shipping backlogs.

Where possible, we strongly recommend bringing forward any time sensitive shipments to depart China during January, which can help reduce exposure to the above challenges.

As always, we will do everything possible to ensure any shipments moving around the Chinese New Year period are handled as smoothly as possible by co-ordinating with our offices in China.

If you would like to discuss your planning requirements or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Westbound team.

If you have any questions regarding the above, then Westbound are here to help. So, please do not hesitate to contact us.