Chinese New Year 2025: Avoid Logistics Delays

Shipping Costs Increase 40% in CNY

Chinese New Year 2025 has led to severe supply chain disruptions. Freight costs on key increased 15-25%, with some reaching 40% higher than 2024. Cargo delays have extended beyond three weeks, and post-holiday recovery is slower than anticipated. If you’ve been impacted, you’re not alone. 

Are You Facing These Chinese New Year Logistics Problems?

• Early booking didn’t prevent delays?

• Freight rates increased after departure?

• Delivery missed, no updates?

• Prolonged factory shutdowns ?

The good news? There are proven ways to minimize the impact, and this blog will guide you through them.

Chinese New Year Disrupts Logistics

Chinese New Year (CNY) is not just another holiday, it’s the biggest annual disruption in global logistics. Unlike short Western holidays, CNY shuts down production and logistics networks for weeks, leading to port congestion, transport delays, and supply chain bottlenecks. If you’re not prepared, your cargo could be stuck for months.

The Key Takeaway?

If you don’t solve the problem, your customers may not stay, but if you aren’t transparent, they definitely won’t. Your clients need reassurance, and that comes from clear communication, strategic planning, and flexible logistics solutions.

1. CNY 2025: More than a Logistics Freeze

While most holidays last only a few days, Chinese New Year (CNY) disrupts logistics for weeks before and after:

Factories reduce output early, workers leave, and shipping rates surge as businesses rush to move goods before the shutdown. Once the holiday ends, labor shortages and backlogs delay recovery. The situation is similar to an airport overwhelmed after a storm, even after flights resume, the backlog causes ongoing disruptions. The same happens in logistics, factories reopen, but delays persist.

What Happens If You Don’t Prepare?

• Delayed shipments: When factories close and workers leave for holidays, production stops completely. This means that businesses depending on just-in-time shipments may experience severe inventory shortages. Customers waiting for orders will be affected, potentially leading to canceled contracts and missed revenue.

• Higher freight rates: As demand for shipping space rises before CNY, freight prices can skyrocket. Businesses that fail to book shipments early may have to pay inflated rates or, worse, find themselves unable to secure transport at all.

• Lost business opportunities: If your competitors prepare in advance and secure inventory while you’re struggling with delays, they’ll have a major advantage. They can continue to serve customers while you scramble to resolve supply chain disruptions.

2. Immediate Actions: Fixes to CNY Interruptions

Practical steps businesses can take right now to minimise disruptions before and during Chinese New Year. Here’s how to adapt to logistics delays during Chinese New Year: 

1. Diversify Transport Routes

Relying on just one transport mode is risky. Mixing ocean, air, and rail freight provides flexibility when primary shipping routes get congested.

• Airfreight: While more expensive, it offers a quick solution for urgent shipments when other routes face congestion. If your product is lightweight and high-value, airfreight could be a viable backup plan.

• Rail freight: In some regions, rail offers an alternative to congested sea routes. For example, businesses shipping between China and Europe can consider rail transport through the New Silk Road initiative.

Intermodal transport: A combination of different modes (road, sea, and rail) provides resilience in case one mode faces issues. This hybrid approach is particularly useful when dealing with uncertain timelines during CNY.

2. Emergency Transport Services

When unexpected delays occur, express shipping options, such as premium air freight or time-sensitive trucking, can help businesses meet urgent demand. These services come at a cost but can be crucial for maintaining business continuity during peak disruption periods.

3. Warehouse Management to Mitigate Delays

If your goods are stored near major markets, you’re already ahead. Warehousing reduces dependence on last-minute shipments from China and gives you a buffer against unexpected disruptions.

Warehousing strategies are particularly effective for businesses that operate on seasonal demand cycles. By maintaining stock in multiple locations, you can ensure customers receive orders quickly even when international supply chains are facing delays.

4. Keep Customers Informed

No one likes surprises, especially not logistics clients. A simple rule of logistics: Customers may tolerate delays if they understand the reasons, but they won’t tolerate silence.

• Be transparent about delays: In shipping timelines, if there’s a risk of late deliveries, communicate early.
• Provide real-time updates: To maintain trust and keep customers from looking elsewhere.
• Realistic shipping forecasts: Procurement, sales, and customer service teams should be aligned so that they can keep customers informed and prevent miscommunication.

3. Long-Term: Avoid Disruptions in Chinese New Year

Beyond just this season, logistics strategies that build long-term resilience against Chinese New Year disruptions. Companies that plan ahead not only survive CNY disruptions, they thrive. Here’s what works to make an opportunity out of logistics disruptions in Chinese New Year:

1. Early Bookings

• Waiting until January to book transport? That’s like trying to get a last-minute holiday flight’s either unavailable or outrageously expensive. Reserve freight space at least two months in advance to lock in better rates and avoid peak-season price hikes.

• Booking early also allows for flexibility in choosing transport options. You may find more cost-effective routes or better alternatives when you plan in advance rather than being forced into expensive last-minute decisions.

2. Strategic Warehouse Managementransport Services

• Placing inventory closer to key markets ensures smoother order fulfillment when shipments from China are delayed. Strategic warehouses, positioned in Europe, North America, and other strategic locations allow businesses to continue operations without relying solely on inbound stock from China.

3. Multi-Carrier Strategies

• Depending on a single shipping partner can be risky during CNY. By working with multiple logistics providers, businesses can ensure they have alternative options in case one carrier experiences disruptions. Having relationships with several freight forwarders can provide more flexibility in choosing the most efficient and cost-effective shipping routes.

4. Real-Time Tracking

• Using supply chain visibility tools and real-time tracking software allows businesses to monitor shipments at every stage. If an issue arises, logistics managers can quickly adjust strategies to mitigate risks before they escalate.

At Portex Logistics, we help businesses navigate peak-season disruptions with flexible warehousing and emergency transport options.

Conclusion

Chinese New Year causes major shipping challenges, The entire supply chain of companies all around the globe is severly impacted during sevreal weeks. So how can you mitigate the logistics freeze in Chinese New Year?

The companies that plan ahead, by securing freight early, strategic warehouse management, and maintaining transparent communication, are the ones that avoid costly disruptions.

Looking for a reliable logistics partner for CNY and beyond? Portex Logistics offers strategic warehousing and last-minute transport solutions to keep your cargo on schedule, even during peak disruption periods.

Portex Logistics: We don’t think about problems, we solve them. 

Get in touch with our team and let’s keep your shipments on schedule!