Secure your bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays

In 2026, the Lunar New Year Day falls on February 17, followed by the Lantern Festival on March 3.

During this festive season, many factories and logistics providers pause operations or operate at reduced capacity. This can significantly affect production, warehousing, and freight availability, especially in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Key dates to be aware of

Festival dates:

• The Lunar New Year Day (also the Chinese New Year): February 17
• The Lantern Festival: March 3

Holiday dates:

• China: February 15-23
• Hong Kong: February 17-19
• Taiwan: February 14-22
  
  

Four simple steps to secure your supply chain

1) Prioritize your purchase orders: Evaluate the criticality of each shipment, prioritize key orders and consider upgrading important shipments to faster transport options.

2) Plan thoroughly: Forecast your logistics needs, coordinate with suppliers, and align timelines to avoid last-minute challenges.

3) Book early to secure capacity: For airfreight, we recommend booking 4-7 days before your desired departure date, and for ocean freight, bookings should ideally be made 6-8 weeks ahead of the planned sailing for timely transportation.

4) Explore alternative transport solutions: Consider other transport modes such as air, rail, or road, especially for urgent shipments from Asia to Europe. Sea-air solutions can also be efficient and reliable.

Cut-off times and emergency contacts

We’ve compiled a full overview of cut-off times for air, ocean, and rail exports from China, along with emergency contacts for time-critical bookings.