01The dates that matter
Three official ones, and four that matter more.
| Date | What happens | What it means for a parcel |
|---|---|---|
| Early Jan 2027 | Factories take last orders and push existing ones | Seller dispatch slows; some listings go out of stock |
| 18–22 Jan 2027 | Workers start leaving; last loadings | Last realistic dispatch window |
| 5 Feb 2027 | New Year's Eve | Warehouses on skeleton staff; no seller dispatch |
| 6 Feb 2027 | New Year's Day | Production stopped |
| 6–20 Feb 2027 | Holiday period | No production, no restock, minimal support |
| 20 Feb 2027 | Lantern Festival | Workers begin returning |
| Late Feb – mid Mar | Ramp-up | Output at 50–70%, quality unstable |
02What actually stops
Not just factories: the whole chain behind them.
Fabric mills, trim suppliers, printing shops and packaging suppliers close on their own schedules, often earlier than the garment factory. A seller who says “we are open” in late January may still be unable to finish an order because the zip supplier has gone home.
Logistics slows in parallel: trucking capacity drops as drivers leave, and warehouse intake queues as everyone tries to ship in the same ten days.
03Your order dates
Work backwards from the last dispatch window.
| If you want the parcel to… | Order by | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Arrive before mid-February | 10 Dec 2026 | Standard air plus warehouse queue, with margin |
| Arrive before Chinese New Year | 20 Dec 2026 | Express only after this date |
| Be produced before the shutdown | Early Jan 2027 | Anything later is produced after 20 February |
| Arrive in March | Late Jan 2027 | Orders sit in the queue and ship when production restarts |
04Prices and quality around the holiday
Two effects that run in opposite directions.
Freight gets more expensive in the three weeks before the holiday, because everyone ships at once, then collapses in the two weeks after, when almost nothing moves. If you can choose, ship after 20 February: capacity is empty and rates are at their yearly low.
Quality is the other risk. Post-holiday production runs with new workers replacing those who did not return, under pressure to clear a backlog. That is when stitching, sizing and colour consistency slip. If you order for March delivery, inspect the first batch rather than the last.
05What to do this month
A short checklist for November 2026.
Place orders for anything you need in January or early February now, not in December. Confirm the seller's own closing date in writing — they vary by two weeks. Ask the agent whether warehouse intake keeps running through the holiday (most do, with fewer staff). And if a listing offers 100-day storage, use it: buying in December and shipping in March costs less than buying in March and shipping in March.
Q&AQuestions people ask about this route
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027. New Year's Eve is Friday 5 February, and the Lantern Festival that closes the season is Saturday 20 February 2027.
How long do Chinese factories close for Chinese New Year?
The official holiday is about a week, but most factories stop production one to two weeks before New Year's Eve and are not running again until two to three weeks after it. Full output can take until mid-March, so plan on roughly six weeks of lost or reduced production.
What is the last date to order before the 2027 shutdown?
Around 10 December 2026 for standard air to arrive before mid-February, and 20 December 2026 for express. Anything ordered after the first week of January 2027 will realistically be produced after 20 February.
Are shipping prices higher before Chinese New Year?
Yes, in the two to three weeks before the holiday, as everyone tries to ship at once. They fall sharply in the two weeks after, when capacity is empty — shipping in late February is usually the cheapest window of the year.
Keep reading
Guides on the same subject, in the order most people need them.
Christmas Shipping Deadlines 2026: Last Order Dates From China
The deadline before this one, with the same five-stage maths.
Read the guide →China Shipping Agent Cost: Weight, Lines & Customs Duty
How freight is priced and why peak weeks cost more.
Read the guide →Returns & Refunds With a China Agent: The Three Windows
The exchange window is shorter than you think around the holiday.
Read the guide →China Buying Glossary: W2C, QC, GL, RL and the Rest
Consolidation, rehearsal packing and storage, defined.
Read the guide →