Chinese New Year and sourcing: how to plan lead times
How Chinese New Year affects sourcing and shipping from China: when factories close, why prices and timelines grow before and after the holiday, and how to plan an order with a buffer.
Chinese New Year (CNY) is the main seasonality factor in sourcing from China. Those who ignore it regularly get missed deadlines, higher prices and a quality dip. Let us break down how the holiday affects production and logistics and how to plan an order.
What happens at Chinese New Year
CNY is the biggest holiday in China, with floating dates (late January — February, by the lunar calendar). During this period:
- factories close — usually 1–2 weeks officially, but the actual downtime, counting workers leaving and returning, stretches to 3–4 weeks or more;
- logistics is overloaded — everyone rushes to ship before the holiday;
- workers travel home across the country, and some do not return after the holiday.
The “before” period: a rush and risks
A pre-holiday surge builds up before CNY:
- timelines grow — factories are overloaded with “make it before the holiday” orders;
- prices rise — both production and logistics (a shortage of shipping space);
- quality risk is higher — the rush before closing increases the chance of defects.
So orders placed “right up against the New Year” are a common source of problems. If you cannot make it with a buffer, it is sometimes wiser to move production to after the holiday.
The “after” period: a slow ramp-up
After CNY, production does not restart instantly:
- workers return gradually, and some positions have to be refilled;
- factories run below full capacity in the first weeks;
- a queue of postponed orders builds up.
Reaching full pace takes several weeks after the holiday.
How to plan an order
- Build in a time buffer — especially if delivery is needed by a specific date (a project opening, a construction stage).
- Place the order early — so production and shipment happen before the pre-holiday rush.
- Confirm the factory’s CNY schedule — closing dates and the real resumption of work.
- Don’t set a deadline right up against factory closures.
- Plan logistics around port congestion before the holiday.
The season’s main rule: Chinese New Year shifts not only production but logistics too. Any order near CNY is planned with a buffer — or moved to after the holiday.
How a sourcing agent closes this
A sourcing partner knows the CNY schedule in advance, agrees timelines with factories, places orders with a buffer and plans logistics so delivery arrives by the needed date. Seasonality becomes a managed factor, not a surprise.
Planning an order near Chinese New Year? We will advise the real timelines for the season and plan delivery to the needed date — without the rush or a quality dip. A free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chinese New Year and how does it affect sourcing?
The dates are floating — late January or February by the lunar calendar. During this period factories close, logistics is overloaded, and timelines and prices rise. It is the main seasonality factor in sourcing from China.
How long do factories close for Chinese New Year?
Officially usually 1–2 weeks, but the actual downtime, counting workers leaving and returning, stretches to 3–4 weeks or more. Some workers do not return after the holiday.
Why do prices and timelines rise before Chinese New Year?
A pre-holiday surge builds up: factories are overloaded with "make it before the holiday" orders, production and logistics get more expensive (a shortage of shipping space), and the rush raises the risk of defects.
How do you plan an order near Chinese New Year?
Build in a time buffer, place the order early, confirm the factory's schedule and do not set a deadline right up against closures. If you cannot make it with a buffer, it is sometimes wiser to move production to after the holiday.