Chinese New Year 2025

Getting Through Chinese New Year: Strategies for Importers

Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, but for importers, it’s also one of the most challenging times of the year. With factory closures beginning on today and the post-holiday labor return often slow and unpredictable, businesses face significant hurdles in maintaining supply chain stability.

At DGL, we’ve spent decades helping clients navigate these complexities, turning potential disruptions into opportunities for growth and resilience. In fact, this is the 50th Chinese New Year under our belt! Here’s what you need to know about the next few weeks and how to prepare for the future.

The Challenges Ahead: What to Expect

  1. Labor Challenges Post-Holiday:
    Workers traditionally take time to return to factories after Chinese New Year, with many extending their holidays or seeking employment elsewhere. In previous years, it has taken weeks for factories to regain full production capacity, leaving importers facing delays.
  2. Space Shortages and Congestion:
    Even after the pre-holiday shipping rush, space shortages often persist due to residual congestion at ports and in warehouses. Importers relying on last-minute shipments may face delays and increased costs.
  3. Uncertainty in Timelines:
    With staggered factory restarts and limited space availability, accurately forecasting delivery times can become a logistical puzzle.

How Dedola Has Helped Clients Manage the Season

  • Securing Priority Space:
    Earlier this season, we worked with a major retailer to secure priority space for critical shipments, ensuring their products reached U.S. ports ahead of schedule.
  • Flexibility Through Rerouting:
    In past years, we helped an electronics importer reroute shipments through secondary ports during post-holiday congestion, cutting delays by nearly a week.
  • Post-Holiday Production Alignment:
    For a client in the fashion industry, we coordinated shipments with staggered factory restarts to avoid peak congestion while maintaining steady inventory flow.

Strategies for the Coming Weeks

  1. Communicate with Your Suppliers:
    Stay in close contact with suppliers to get updates on production schedules and workforce returns. Understanding their timelines will help you adjust your inventory planning.
  2. Explore Alternative Transportation Options:
    Consider using air freight for critical shipments or rerouting through less congested ports to avoid delays.
  3. Be Strategic with Inventory Management:
    Focus on managing existing inventory efficiently to bridge gaps during this period.

Looking Ahead: Planning for Next Year’s Chinese New Year

While it’s too late to avoid some of the challenges of this year’s holiday, now is the time to start planning for 2026. Early preparation can make all the difference:

  • Start Mid-Year: Begin conversations with your suppliers and logistics partners well in advance to forecast demand and secure capacity.
  • Diversify Your Supply Chain: Reduce reliance on a single region or supplier to mitigate risks during seasonal disruptions.
  • Leverage Dedola’s Expertise: Work with us to create a tailored plan that ensures your supply chain remains resilient, even during peak seasons.

Chinese New Year is a challenging time for importers, but with the right strategies and support, your business can navigate these disruptions successfully. Dedola Global Logistics is here to guide you through this season and help you prepare for the future.

Contact Us to Create a Strategy to Navigate CNY and Beyond