Chinese New Year 2027: when to close your orders to receive them on time
Summary: Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, eleven days earlier than in 2026. We explain how long factory shutdowns really last, which dates to watch and when to close your orders if you buy from suppliers in China.
Every year Chinese New Year stops a large share of China’s production, and every year some importers only find out when their supplier stops answering. In 2027 it comes early: 6 February, eleven days earlier than in 2026. At BLS we know the official holiday is the least of it; what matters are the weeks before and after. Here is how to plan them.
BLS calendar · ChinaChinese New Year 2027, week by week
- Nov to DecOrders
Orders and deposits for what must ship before the holiday.
- Mid-JanLast shipment
Priority goods should already be loaded.
- Late JanFactories
Production slows down and staff travel home.
- 5 and 6 FebChinese New Year
Eve and first day of the lunar year. Factories closed.
- 20 FebLanterns
The season ends; staff come back.
- MarchRecovery
Factories return to their normal pace.
Orange: the dates that do not move. The others are the usual pattern: confirm your supplier’s dates in writing.
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
The lunar new year begins on Saturday 6 February 2027. The eve, the most important day of the celebration, is Friday 5 February, and the Lantern Festival, which closes the season, is Saturday 20 February.
In mainland China the statutory holiday is four days: the eve and the first three days of the year. The government extends it every year by swapping weekends for working days; in 2026 the break lasted nine days, from 15 to 23 February. The official 2027 calendar is published between November and December 2026.
It is not only China: Vietnam celebrates Tết at the same time, with a public-sector break from 4 to 10 February 2027. If you diversified suppliers to Southeast Asia, the holiday affects you just the same.
How long do factories close?
Much longer than the official holiday. The pattern every year is this:
- Before: one to two weeks before the eve, production lines slow down and millions of workers travel to their hometowns. The 2026 travel season lasted 40 days.
- During: factories close, and most offices do not answer either.
- After: staff return gradually, usually until after the Lantern Festival, and not everyone goes back to the same job. Normal output usually takes until March.
In practice, count on about six weeks of lost or reduced production, from late January to mid-March.
How does it affect transport?
- Before the holiday: everyone wants to ship at the same time, so space on ships and planes fills up and getting it in January costs more.
- After the holiday: with less cargo, carriers often cancel sailings (blank sailings) for a few weeks. Your cargo may wait longer than planned at the port of origin.
- At destination: what left in January arrives in the United States or Mexico between February and March, together with every other importer’s cargo.
If your cargo does not fill a container, keep this in mind when choosing between sharing a container or paying for a full one: we explain it in FCL or LCL.
When should you close your orders?
Count backwards from the date your goods must be loaded, not from 6 February:
- Set the last loading day: for the 2027 holiday, the prudent move is to have priority goods loaded by mid-January, before factories start slowing down.
- Subtract the production time: if your factory takes 45 days from deposit to finished goods, the deposit must be paid by early December.
- Book transport early: request your space as soon as you have the loading date. January is when it is hardest to get.
- Get your supplier’s dates in writing: last production day, last loading day and return date, with the name of who answers during the holiday.
- Add what comes after: include transit and customs time when you calculate when the goods will reach your warehouse, and your total cost with the United States tariffs in your landed cost.
BLS tip: split your order in two. What you need to sell in February and March should ship before the holiday; schedule the rest for when the factory is back at its normal pace. That way you do not compete for space in January or depend on the first production run after the holiday, which is the most error-prone.
What to do after the holiday?
- Confirm who came back: ask your supplier whether your line has its full staff before accepting delivery dates.
- Check quality: with new or just-returned staff, inspecting the first production run matters more than ever.
- Track your shipments: with cancelled sailings, check the estimated arrival of what you already shipped. We explain how in how to track an international shipment.
- Look at the rest of the year: the next long pause in China is Golden Week in October. See every date in our peak shipping seasons calendar.
A peak season surcharge often appears in those weeks: see how to read it in what a freight quote is made of. And agree with your supplier who books the freight according to the Incoterm; we compare the options in FCA vs FOB.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
On Saturday 6 February 2027. The eve is Friday 5 February and the season ends with the Lantern Festival on Saturday 20 February.
How long do factories in China close?
The official holiday lasts about a week, but between the slowdown before and the gradual return of staff, production drops for about six weeks.
When should you place orders before Chinese New Year?
Priority goods should be loaded by mid-January 2027. Subtract your factory’s production time to know when to pay the deposit, usually between November and early December.
Does Vietnam close too?
Yes. Vietnam celebrates Tết on the same dates, with an official public-sector break from 4 to 10 February 2027, and many factories close longer.
Chinese New Year cannot be avoided, but it can be planned. With BLS ocean freight we book your space before the peak season and follow your cargo from origin to destination, so the holiday does not show in your February and March sales.
