With Christmas preparations under way, February may feel a long way off. However, for businesses importing from China, now is a good time to start planning around Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, marking the beginning of the Year of the Goat. For importers, preparations need to account for more than the holiday itself, with factory closures and changes to transport availability affecting goods before and after the celebrations.
Starting those conversations with your freight forwarder early can help avoid unnecessary last-minute pressure.
Why does Chinese New Year affect imports?
Chinese New Year is an important national celebration, with many workers travelling home to spend time with their families. Factories and other businesses close for the holiday, reducing manufacturing output and affecting the services needed to move goods.
The impact varies between suppliers. Some factories begin winding down before the holiday, while others may take time to return to full production afterwards.
Shipping lines can also adjust services around changes in demand. This means importers need to consider both when their goods will be ready and which departures are available.
Confirm your suppliers’ plans
One of the most useful first steps is to ask suppliers about their individual schedules.
Confirm their final order deadlines, expected closure dates and when they anticipate returning to normal production. It is also worth checking the last date goods can be collected before they close.
A factory’s reopening date does not necessarily mean new orders will be ready immediately. Existing orders and any production backlog may affect when your next shipment can leave.
Getting this information early gives you a clearer starting point for planning.
Review your stock requirements
Consider what your business will need during the holiday period and while production and deliveries resume afterwards.
Look at expected sales, existing stock and any products that are particularly important to your operations. Goods with longer production lead times or limited alternative suppliers may need closer attention.
The aim is to understand where a gap could develop and decide whether any orders need to be brought forward. Any additional stock should also be balanced against storage capacity and cash flow.
Work backwards from your delivery date
Planning around a factory’s closure date alone may leave too little time for transport.
Start with when the goods need to be available at your premises, then allow for production, collection, international transport, customs clearance and final delivery.
Build in a reasonable margin for changes rather than relying on the latest possible departure. Transit times and booking deadlines vary by route and service, so shipment-specific advice is more useful than a single deadline for every importer.
Discuss freight arrangements early
As businesses aim to dispatch goods before the holiday, demand for freight space will increase. Meanwhile, service adjustments can change the departures available.
Sharing expected cargo volumes, collection locations, and cargo-ready dates with your freight forwarder early helps identify suitable options.
Keep those details updated if production plans change. A booking needs to align with when the goods will actually be ready, including any inspections and documentation required before dispatch.
Start the conversation now
You do not need every shipment finalised today, but confirming supplier schedules and reviewing your requirements now can make later decisions easier.
If you are planning imports from China around Chinese New Year 2027, contact our team to discuss your upcoming shipments.
This article provides general planning guidance. Supplier closures, production schedules and transport availability vary. Confirm arrangements for your individual shipments before making commitments.