How to prepare your supply chain for the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays

In 2025, the Lunar New Year will start on 29th January and end on 11th February with the Lantern Festival.

Traditionally, activities begin about three weeks before, meaning suppliers start halting production in early to mid-January. 

The celebrations will vary from country to country. Still, most employees will not return to their jobs until the end of February, and production usually returns to normal at the beginning of March.

Festival dates: 

• The Lunar New Year Day (also the Chinese New Year): January 29th 

• The Lantern Festival: February 12th  

Country holidays: 

• China: January 28 – February 4 

• Hong Kong: January 29 to 31 

• Taiwan: January 25 – February 2 

Prepare for the festive season in four simple steps

1. Define purchase order importance: Define importance levels for each purchase order or shipment and consider prioritising or upgrading essential shipments.

2. Thorough planning: Focus on meticulous planning to ensure a smooth execution of your business operations.

3. Advance booking: If possible, initiate airfreight bookings at least four to seven days before the intended flight date in advance and ocean freight bookings six to eight weeks before the planned sailing date for timely transportation.

4. Explore alternative transportation or solutions: Consider alternative freight modes like air, rail, or truck services, especially for urgent needs from Asia to Europe. Sea-air solutions may also be efficient and reliable.

Cut-off times  

You can refer here  to the cut-off times and emergency contacts in China for Air, Rail, and Ocean. 

If you have any questions, please get in touch with your local contact at Scan Global Logistics.