Why Chinese New Year disrupts production for weeks, the timeline to plan around it and what to do before and after the holiday to avoid stock-outs.
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the most important holiday in China and the biggest annual disruption for anyone who imports from there. The official holiday lasts about a week, but its effect on production and shipping lasts much longer. Planning for it is one of the simplest ways to avoid stock-outs.
When it happens
The date follows the lunar calendar and changes every year, usually falling between late January and mid-February. Check the exact date for the coming year as early as possible.
Why it lasts longer than the holiday
- Before the holiday: factories rush to finish orders, capacity is full and shipping demand and prices rise.
- During the holiday: most factories close. Many workers travel home to other provinces.
- After the holiday: some workers return late or not at all. Factories need time to restart, and new staff need training, which can affect quality.
In practice, production can be disrupted for several weeks around the official dates.
A planning timeline
Three to four months before
- Forecast sales for the months around the holiday.
- Place orders for the stock you will need until production returns to normal.
- Confirm the closing and reopening dates with each supplier.
Two months before
- Confirm production dates in writing.
- Book freight early: space gets scarce and rates rise.
- Schedule inspections before the factory closes.
One month before
- Check production progress weekly.
- Do not accept last-minute changes to specifications.
- Make sure goods are inspected and shipped, not just “finished”, before the closure.
After the holiday
- Expect slower restarts and confirm new dates.
- Inspect the first production after the holiday with extra care.
- Avoid launching new products right after the holiday.
Other dates to keep in mind
- Golden Week in early October, around National Day: factories and offices close for about a week.
- Peak shipping season before the end-of-year retail season, when freight capacity tightens.
The cost of not planning
Stock-outs during your own peak sales, rushed production with more defects, expensive air freight to make up for delays and orders that simply wait until spring.
Planning production and stock is part of what Zyntral coordinates in its End to End import service. Read also how to scale an e-commerce supply chain.
