How successful importers prepare for the 2026 Chinese New Year
The 2026 Chinese New Year will start on February 17.
While the official public holiday lasts only about a week, the disruption to global supply chains can continue for nearly a month. 
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important annual holiday in China.
It marks a period when millions of people travel home to their families, and businesses across the country pause their operations.
For importers, the lead-up to the 2026 Chinese New Year is a critical period where timing matters more than usual.
Decisions made in advance can determine whether shipments move as planned or face pressure and delays.
Successful importers understand this well.
They recognize Chinese New Year early and take proactive steps to control costs and maintain business continuity.
What to expect during Chinese New Year
As the holiday approaches, manufacturing and logistics activity typically begins to slow, and many factories stop production around February 8.
Even though the celebrations end on March 3, operations often don’t return to full capacity until weeks later, with factories beginning to ramp up again in mid-to-late March.
As a result, you can expect the following:
- Factory operations slow and temporarily shut down during the holiday
- Transit times extend, with more blank sailings and reduced capacity
- Bottlenecks at ports increase as businesses rush to ship goods before the shutdown
- Freight rates rise sharply as demand peaks for limited space
Each of these factors can strain your supply chain on its own. When they happen together, the impact on your business can be significant.
Preparing for the 2026 Chinese New Year
Successful preparation for the 2026 Chinese New Year begins well before the holiday arrives.
If you import goods from China, here’s how you can keep surprises and costs under control:
Plan production and order timelines early
Confirm production schedules and holiday shutdown dates with your suppliers as early as possible.
Placing orders ahead of peak demand helps reduce the risk of unfinished production or missed shipping windows.
Build inventory to cover the slowdown
It’s best to increase inventory levels ahead of Chinese New Year to ensure continuity during factory closures and reduced output.
Maintaining buffer stock can help you avoid stockouts during the holiday period.
Secure transportation in advance
Freight capacity becomes increasingly constrained as Chinese New Year approaches.
Booking transportation early improves your chances of securing space and avoiding last-minute rate increases or rolled cargo.
To depart before Chinese New Year, ocean shipments must be at the port two weeks before the holiday, and air shipments should be at the air terminal one week before.
Note that carriers may change their schedules or cancel flights during this period.
Allow extra time for documentation and clearance
Reduced staffing and higher volumes can slow documentation processing and customs clearance.
Adding extra time to your schedules helps prevent unnecessary delays once goods are ready to move.
How we can help
At Cole International, we offer customs brokerage and freight forwarding services to help Canadian businesses approach the 2026 Chinese New Year with greater confidence and fewer surprises.
Our team can work with you to:
- Adjust production timelines and planning cycles in advance
- Revise shipping plans to account for capacity constraints and longer lead times
- Provide tailored guidance to respond to supply chain changes
Reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss how we can support your planning and preparation for the 2026 Chinese New Year.
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