The exact timing will vary by supplier, product and origin. Businesses should not assume that factories will continue accepting orders until the holiday itself, or that production will return to normal as soon as the holiday ends.

Already past the order windows? If the windows for complex and standard orders have closed for your business, the priority now is to confirm each supplier's closure and reopening dates and secure freight bookings for December and January.

How long do factories close for Chinese New Year?

Many factories begin reducing production capacity and closing production lines several weeks before Lunar New Year. Logistics networks also see increased demand as businesses bring shipments forward, while reduced trucking and warehouse capacity adds pressure to the journey from factory to port.

The disruption continues after the holiday. Production capacity can take several weeks to return to normal, as workers travel home for the holiday and some do not return to their previous employers. Our Lunar New Year supply-chain planning guide covers the wider production, freight and inventory considerations businesses should account for.

How the 11-day shift affects UK importers

UK goods imports from China totalled £74.9 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2026, according to the UK Government's China trade and investment factsheet. For UK retailers, manufacturers and ecommerce businesses sourcing at that scale, even a relatively small change to the production calendar has consequences further down the supply chain.

A delayed production run can push a shipment onto a later vessel, and a later departure can land inventory after the intended restocking date. For seasonal or fast-moving products, that missed replenishment window can turn into lost sales or expensive last-minute freight.

The risk is particularly high for businesses sourcing products with long production lead times, customised specifications or limited alternative suppliers.

Importers reviewing their China sourcing plans for 2027 should also factor in China's 2026 export tax rebate changes.

How to plan freight and stock around Chinese New Year 2027

SEKO's client solutions team works with importers throughout the year to build Lunar New Year contingency into production and freight planning. Dan Eckett, Client Solutions Group Director, SEKO Logistics UK & Ireland, says early engagement and realistic booking timeframes are the most common gap between businesses that navigate the holiday smoothly and those that do not.

Start supplier conversations three months out

"Ideally, planning discussions should start three months before Chinese New Year. This provides sufficient time to review forecasts, align production schedules with suppliers and ensure inventory and transport plans are in place before the market begins to experience capacity constraints."

Working back from 6 February, that puts the start of planning discussions for 2027 in early November 2026.

Book freight at least three weeks before cargo is ready

"We advise clients to engage with suppliers well in advance of Chinese New Year and secure bookings at least three weeks ahead of shipment readiness to protect carrier capacity. It's important to build contingency into planning, maintain visibility of production timelines and understand exactly when individual suppliers intend to close and reopen operations."

Add one to two weeks to ocean transit plans

Ocean freight is typically the first area to feel the pressure, according to Eckett:

"Ocean freight is heavily impacted in the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, as exporters accelerate shipments ahead of factory closures. This creates pressure on vessel space, equipment availability and carrier schedules, so we typically recommend building an additional one to two weeks into transit plans and ensuring supplier bookings are confirmed well before that three-week threshold, not after it."

Forecast stock through the recovery period, not just the shutdown

Eckett's advice on inventory covers the weeks after factories reopen, not only the closure itself:

"For UK importers, stock forecasting should account for both the shutdown period and the recovery phase. While factories may reopen shortly after the holiday, many operate with reduced staffing levels into March, which can affect production output and lead times. We encourage clients to hold appropriate inventory buffers to maintain product availability and avoid disruption to customer demand."

Plan your Lunar New Year 2027 shipments with SEKO

Lunar New Year 2027 may be months away, but the planning deadline is not. The holiday arrives 11 days earlier than it did in 2026, and those 11 days come directly out of the supply-chain planning calendar.

SEKO's UK team can help you map supplier closure dates, book freight forwarding capacity ahead of the pre-holiday peak, arrange air freight for time-critical stock and plan inventory through the recovery period. Speak with our logistics experts.