The Chinese New Year in the Western countries is often nothing more than a blip on the radar. For some Western countriess, the holiday comes and goes without them even noticing.
In mainland China (and even in other Asian countries that celebrate the holiday ), the Chinese New Year holiday is a very big deal.
When the Chinese New Year holiday comes around each year, it throws many newer importers for a loop. These importers often don’t realize how much impact this holiday will have on their production timelines, product quality, and shipping schedules.
As many seasoned promotional products importers will tell you, it’s critical to start planning for the holiday far in advance. Factories shut down for several weeks, and after they reopen, it takes at least a few more weeks to get back up to full production capacity.
How Long do Factories Shut Down for Chinese New Year ?
During Chinese New Year , every factory in the china shuts down… Yes, every factory. The china official public holiday only lasts for seven days. But, the majority of factories are fully closed for between two and four weeks.
Additionally, many Chinese factory workers take extra time off, leaving in the weeks leading up to their company closure dates, which slows production down significantly. Many workers will not return immediately afterward, meaning that it can take up to a month for production to return to full capacity after the holiday.
Notice that this is a rough timeline. Ultimately, it depends on the suppliers’ schedule.
December 23rd: Last day to place an order for delivery before the CNY (assuming a 40 day production time)
January 5th – 12th: No new orders are started (all new orders will enter production after CNY)
January 21th: Some manufacturers and material suppliers stop mass production and prepare to make their final shipments before closure
January 25th: Most workers have already left the factories. Sales reps, engineers, and management may still be around for a couple of days
January 28th: All personnel leaves the factory (including sales reps and managers). Packed and unfinished products that are yet to be shipped will be sealed in the factory until they open again. Nothing will leave the factory when they are closed.
February 1st: Chinese New Years Eve
February 14th – 18th: Most sales reps and engineers are back in the factory, or at least respond to emails and calls. Some factories resume production
February 21st – 25th: Most factories are now operational and production resumes. The suppliers normally prioritize unfinished orders and shipping cargo that was packed before closure.
Why do Factories and Employees Take So Much Time Off ?
Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is the country’s most important holiday. Like Thanksgiving or Christmas in the US, people travel back home to spend time with their families.
Since most factory workers are migrant laborers, they generally live far away from their hometowns and travel hundreds of miles or more to return home. If they have a husband or wife and children, it may even be one of the only times they get to see them during the whole year.
It’s also their only major holiday for the entire year. By comparison, there is no summer holiday in Mainland China (or most Asian countries for that matter). Might as well stay in an air-conditioned office or factory during the Asian summer.
Companies require long closure times to allow workers to travel home and then back to the city where they work. The 40 days of increased travel around CNY is referred to as Chūnyùn (春运), and this is the largest human migration in the world.
Before 2020, when there was no COVID-19
What about the COVID-19 situation and Chinese New Year 2022 ?
Since October 17, China has reported at least one locally transmitted case everyday, as local outbreaks continue to flare up one after another with increasingly short intermissions.
While its caseload pales in comparison with those of many countries — including the United States, which is averaging more than 100,000 new cases a day — the unceasing flareups underscore the growing challenge China faces to keep infections at zero.
For more than a year, China has been highly efficient in curbing local outbreaks with mass testing, snap lockdowns, vigilant surveillance and extensive quarantines — all the while keeping the border tightly sealed.
As proof of the success of these measures, not a single Covid-related death has been reported in the country since late January.
Zhejiang Province held the 82nd press conference on the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, introducing the situation related to the prevention and control of the epidemic.
As of December 8, Ningbo, Shaoxing and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province have reported a total of 41 positive infections, 12 confirmed cases, 13 asymptomatic infections and 16 positive primary screening cases. Among them, Ningbo reported 8 confirmed cases, 5 asymptomatic infections and 5 positive cases in primary screening, Shaoxing Shangyu reported 2 confirmed cases, 5 asymptomatic infections and 11 positive cases in primary screening, Hangzhou reported 2 confirmed cases and 3 asymptomatic infections. The province has a total of 1,543 people who have been identified as close contacts and 8,429 people who are sub-close contacts, all of whom have implemented control measures.
How should I prepare for Chinese New Year shutdown ?
1. Understand what happens during Chinese New Year
2. Develop a trusting relationship with your supplier or manufacturer
3. Create a forecast to get you through CNY and beyond
4. Increase your inventory beforehand
5. Deliver cargo to the port no later than 10 days before the ship date
6. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket
7. Put a Quality Management Plan into place
8. Take advantage of Vendor-Managed Inventory
9. Plan for AFTER Chinese New Year
10. Start planning early
