Chinese New Year (CNY)

The most important family holiday in China. Factories, ports and offices close for 2-3 weeks, with 4-6 weeks of knock-on effects.

Seasonal events are often the single largest external stressor on supply chains — bigger than short-term rate movements. Those who plan for them win; those who ignore them fight shortages, returns and unhappy customers.

Pre-CNY peak: rates +30-50 %, capacity tight Asia-Europe/USA. Post-CNY: slow ramp-up, full production after ~2 weeks.

Early capacity booking, alternative routing and active stakeholder management are the keys to surviving peak events. Run forecast reviews with carriers, lock rates early and, where needed, use premium services to secure shipping windows.

Plan inventory, bookings and production schedules 8-12 weeks in advance. Communicate the seasonal timeline early to suppliers, customers and carriers. Document the seasonal curve as an annual calendar and tie S&OP directly to transport and customs capacity.