For our many clients who trade with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, please note the dates of the Chinese New Year holidays.
The Chinese New Year (CNY), also known as the Lunar New Year, is one of the most important holiday periods in global logistics. For businesses, it can present specific challenges due to factory closures, reduced workforce, and potential shipping disruptions.
In 2026, the CNY Spring Festival falls on 17 February (Tuesday), marking the Year of the Horse, with a 7-day, government-mandated holiday for family reunions. The celebrations culminate 15 days later with the Lantern Festival on 03 March, signalling the end of the festivities
Note that China is not the only country that celebrates the Lunar New Year – some Southeast Asian countries also observe it, although their time off is generally shorter.
CNY is one of the most significant holidays in China and importers need to be aware of the effect on international freight forwarding. This holiday not only holds cultural importance, but also leads to notable shipping delays due to the widespread closure of factories and businesses in China.
Many businesses start their Lunar New Year preparations early and reduce production up to three weeks in advance, to allow their workers a chance to travel home and visit with family during this period. Full operations may resume by the beginning of March, typically after the Lantern Festival.
Understanding the implications of this period and preparing accordingly can help mitigate the impact on your logistics operations.
Factory shutdowns and shipping delays.
This holiday season is a time when many in China and other Asian countries engage in family reunions, leading to a major slowdown in production as factories and offices close to celebrate the new year. Container shipping lines often adjust their service strings to accommodate the decreased output.
For the CNY celebrations, there’s still a bit of time. The majority of carriers require bookings 10-14 days before departure, so you need to be aware of the deadlines. In the push prior to this period, trucking in China can become quite tight, and, as a direct result, these local transport rates will skyrocket.
The holiday period significantly affects supply chain and logistics operations due to the sheer volume of factory closures and a sharp decline in production. Disruptions include:
- Factory shutdowns and production halt
- Increased freight transportation rates
- Potential congestion and shipping delays
- Missed cut-off dates / Orders rolling into March shipments
For Australian supply chains, this creates a disruption window of 6–8 weeks. Even when factories re-open, there is a high risk of delay right after the Chinese New Year: Factories take time to return to full production; Trucking and warehouse labour remains limited; Export backlogs build rapidly.
Planning and navigating shipments around the Chinese New Year can be challenging, but disruptions can be minimised with the proper preparation and logistics partner. At Colless Young, we specialise in guiding businesses through the complexities of international shipping. Our expertise ensures your shipments are handled efficiently and arrive on time, even during peak periods.
Colless Young’s international freight forwarding solutions from China and SE Asia will provide you with peace of mind this CNY holiday season. Contact Andrew, email enq@collessyoung.com.au Tel: +61 7 3890 0800.
