The 2026 Spring Festival falls on 17 February, with the public holiday running for nine consecutive days from 15 to 23 February 2026. For importers, the important dates are not the holiday itself but the cut-offs either side of it.
What the calendar means for buyers
- Late January — most factories set their last order date for pre-holiday shipment. Production capacity is already committed.
- Early February — output winds down; quality and finishing capacity thin out as staff leave.
- 15–23 February — official holiday. Many factories are closed for longer, commonly two to three weeks in total.
- From 24 February — phased restart. Expect a ramp-up rather than full output, and a queue for materials.
- March — freight lanes are congested as the backlog clears.
How to plan
- Confirm each supplier’s last order date and first production date after the holiday, in writing.
- Place orders that need to move before the holiday at least four to six weeks ahead.
- Book freight space early for both the pre-holiday and post-holiday windows.
- Increase safety stock on the parts you cannot run out of.
- For critical spares, split the order so part of it ships before the closure.
- Reconfirm prices quoted in the final week of January before releasing any order.
Beyond spring festival
National Day in early October creates a similar but shorter disruption. Both belong in an annual purchasing calendar, alongside the supplier’s summer maintenance shutdowns.
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