Key points
- Chinese New Year's Day 2027 is 6 February; the official holiday schedule is normally published by the State Council in November.
- Factories often close 2–4 weeks and restart slowly because workers return late.
- Space is tight and surcharges rise in the weeks before the holiday; rollovers are common.
- Order by early December 2026 and aim to sail before mid January.
- In 2027 Ramadan begins about 8 February, so Gulf clearance hours shorten just as CNY cargo arrives.
Key dates for Chinese New Year 2027
| Date | What happens | What it means for your cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Early December 2026 | Last safe point to confirm orders for pre-holiday shipment | Later orders risk being finished after the holiday |
| Mid December 2026 | Book space for January sailings | Booking requests usually 7–14 days before sailing in normal months, longer before CNY |
| Early–mid January 2027 | Pre-holiday rush: factories, trucks, warehouses and vessels at full capacity | Busiest and most expensive sailings; rollovers to the next vessel are common |
| Late January 2027 | Many factories start closing as workers travel home | Production and pickups slow sharply |
| 5–6 February 2027 | New Year's Eve (Friday 5 Feb) and New Year's Day (Saturday 6 Feb) | Statutory holiday expected about 5/6–11/12 February; official schedule not yet published as of early November 2026 |
| About 8 February 2027 | Ramadan expected to begin in the Gulf (moon sighting) | Customs and ports work, with shorter hours and slower clearances |
| 20 February 2027 | Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year | Many factories are still ramping up; labour shortages can last weeks |
| About 9–10 March 2027 | Eid al-Fitr in the Gulf (moon sighting) | Short closure of Gulf offices; plan deliveries around it |
Why factories close for weeks, not days
The statutory Spring Festival holiday is about a week; in 2026 it ran from 15 to 23 February. Factories stay closed far longer because many workers travel back to their home provinces, and manufacturers stop taking raw material deliveries well before the break. After the holiday, not all workers return on time and some change employer, so output often stays low for several weeks. Quality tends to slip as well: new staff, rushed restarts and pressure to clear the backlog all show up in the first post-holiday batches. That is why a pre-shipment inspection matters even more on orders finished just before or just after the holiday.
Rates, space and rollovers before the holiday
Every supplier in China tries to ship before the break at the same time. Trucks, consolidation warehouses, customs brokers and vessels fill up from early January. Carriers commonly add peak season surcharges and general rate increases in this period, and full vessels mean containers can be rolled to the next sailing even with a confirmed booking. We do not publish freight rates because they change every week; our team quotes your exact route within one working day and tells you which sailings still have space. What you can control is timing: cargo ready in mid December ships on calmer terms than cargo ready on 20 January.
A booking timeline that works
- October–November: forecastAgree with each supplier what must ship before the holiday and what can wait until March.
- By early December: confirm ordersPlace purchase orders with deposits and a written ex-factory date for each supplier.
- Mid December: book spaceGive our team the volume, ready date and pickup city so we book January sailings 3–4 weeks ahead.
- Late December: inspectBook pre-shipment inspections early; inspectors are fully booked in January.
- Early January: consolidateSuppliers deliver to our Guangzhou warehouse by the cut-off; we count, photograph and load one container.
- Before mid January: sailExport clearance and loading done before the last rush; B/L issued after sailing.
- February: arrival in the UAEDischarge at Khor Fakkan, bonded truck to Jebel Ali, import clearance during Ramadan hours.
- Late February–March: restartRe-confirm production dates for post-holiday orders and inspect the first batches closely.
Golden Week and the other Chinese holidays
- 6 February 2027, statutory holiday about a week
- Factories often closed 2–4 weeks
- Pre-holiday rush from early to mid January
- Post-holiday labour shortages for weeks
- Biggest disruption of the year
- 1–7 October every year, including 2027
- Factories, trucking and customs slow down
- Pre-holiday rush in late September
- Overlaps with the autumn Canton Fair season in Guangzhou
- Plan September cargo early
- 1 May, usually a 5-day break (about 1–5 May)
- Moderate slowdown
- Comes right after the spring Canton Fair phases
- Book late April sailings in advance
Pre-holiday checklist for importers
Before Chinese New Year
0/10Check your plan
Chinese New Year shipping quiz
Frequently asked questions
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year's Day is Saturday 6 February 2027, with New Year's Eve on 5 February. The official public holiday schedule is normally published by the State Council in November of the year before.
How long do Chinese factories close for Chinese New Year?
The statutory holiday is about a week, but many factories close for about 2–4 weeks, roughly late January to late February, and restart slowly as workers return.
When should I order to ship before Chinese New Year 2027?
By early December 2026. Book space about 3–4 weeks before the last pre-holiday sailings and aim to ship before mid January 2027.
Do shipping rates go up before Chinese New Year?
Usually yes. Carriers often add peak season surcharges and rate increases, and space is tight. Rates change weekly, so our team quotes your route within one working day.
Do Chinese ports close during Chinese New Year?
Vessels keep sailing, but factories, trucking and export services are thin, so cargo that is not ready before the holiday usually waits until production restarts.
What is Golden Week in China?
The National Day holiday from 1 to 7 October. Factories, trucking and customs slow down, and there is a pre-holiday rush in late September.
Can Golden Way consolidate several suppliers before the holiday?
Yes. Our Guangzhou warehouse receives goods from several suppliers, counts and photographs them, and loads one container to the UAE or Oman.
Sources
- Xinhua – State Council General Office notice on 2026 holiday arrangements (4 Nov 2025)
- Sina News / Shangguan – projected 2027 Spring Festival holiday (1 Nov 2026, unofficial)
- ChinaTravel – Chinese New Year 2027 date
- ExamineChina – Holidays in China 2027 (unofficial calendar)
- Lloyd's List Intelligence – Strait of Hormuz Brief, 22 October 2026
- Tradlinx – Maersk's Gulf rerouting changes port of discharge, D&D and empty returns (14 Sep 2026)
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.