CHS Air & Sea Oy closely monitors market conditions and supports companies in planning their supply chains efficiently, even during the busiest peak seasons.
Impact of Chinese New Year on Ocean Freight
The period leading up to Chinese New Year is the busiest season of the year for ocean freight markets. Factories aim to move large volumes of goods before ports and production facilities shut down.
During the Chinese New Year period:
• Factories and ports close fully or almost fully.
• Container and warehouse capacity fills up quickly.
• Demand surges before the holiday → causing price spikes and capacity shortages.
• Transit times can easily extend by several weeks.
The holiday season ends with the Lantern Festival on 3 March, but it may take much longer for production and logistics operations to return to normal.
By booking sea freight early, you secure cargo space and competitive pricing.
Impact of Chinese New Year on Air Freight
In air freight, the holiday week causes a short pause, but urgent shipments typically resume shortly afterward.
• Brief disruptions at the beginning of the holiday period.
• Reduced transport capacity due to lower production volumes.
• Longer transit times.
• Higher booking rates as the peak approaches.
By booking air freight early, you secure cargo space and competitive pricing.
Other Lunar New Year Celebrations in East Asia
Several other Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year at the same time, including:
• Singapore
• Hongkong
• South Korea
• Vietnam
These celebrations and holydays also affect industry and logistics similarly to China: production slows down, lead times increase, and capacity decreases.
How Your Company Can Prepare for Chinese New Year
1. Confirm freight bookings early
Place orders well in advance to ensure your shipments leave before factory and port closures.
2. Use the expertise of CHS Air & Sea Oy
The logistics professionals at CHS help you plan:
• storage needs
• transport routes
• schedules
• risk management
3. Use air freight for urgent shipments
Air freight is an effective way to secure deliveries in situations where ocean freight delays occur.
CHS Air & Sea – Your Partner in Securing Supply Chains
Chinese New Year causes significant disruptions to global supply chains every year, but with proper planning these impacts can be managed.
CHS Air & Sea Oy provides reliable, professional, and customer-focused logistics services, ensuring that your supply chain remains operational even during peak seasons.
Contact our specialists – we are here to help keep your shipments moving smoothly, even during the busiest times of the year.
Air freight, sea freight and road transportations
inquiry(at)chs.fi
+358 20 7669 420
Merja Laiho
Operations Director, Ocean freight
+358 40 596 1481
merja.laiho(at)chs.fi
Read our other news:
Read our customer stories:
Contact Us
Call us or send an email.
We will help you find the best solutions for your logistics.