Lunar New Year 2026 – Key Dates and Impact on Logistics
The Year of the Horse will be welcomed on February 17, 2026, with Lunar New Year celebrations - one of the most cherished traditions originating in Chinese culture, as families reunite and festivities fill the season.
This holiday extends beyond China and is widely observed across the Asia Pacific region, including Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, and more.
During this festive period, many factories and offices close, and production slows considerably. To help you plan ahead, we’ve outlined the key dates for our branch closures and the potential impact on your logistics operations.
Impact of the Lunar New Year festival on logistics:
- Early production slowdown: Suppliers in China typically wind down operations 1 - 2 weeks before the official holiday. While the public holiday lasts about a week, many factories remain closed for up to a month or longer.
- Reduced transport capacity: With minimal production from mainland China, carriers deploy less capacity to and from China, impacting schedules.
- Extended market impact: The holiday effect spans around two months. Companies dependent on Chinese or Asian suppliers often stock up inventory, causing a pre-holiday cargo rush and a slower post-holiday recovery.
How to minimize the impact?
To keep your supply chain running smoothly during the holiday period, we recommend:
- Communicate early with suppliers and customers to secure sufficient stock and manage expectations.
- Share your shipment forecast with us for long-term planning, so we can provide the most suitable solutions for your budget and timeline.
Book early:
- Sea freight: book 4 - 6 weeks before the holiday.
- Air freight: book 1 - 2 weeks before the holiday.
Holiday closure schedule for DACHSER Air & Sea Logistics Asia Pacific branches
Please note the public holidays during which DACHSER branches will be closed:
- Hong Kong: February 17 - 19
- Indonesia: February 16 - 17
- Korea: February 16 - 18
- Mainland China: February 15 - 23
- Malaysia: February 17 - 18
- Singapore: February 17 - 18
- Taiwan: February 14 - 22
- Vietnam: February 16 - 20
If you have suppliers or production lines in China or other APAC countries, please contact us to develop an operational logistics plan. Together, we can create a robust forecast to navigate the Lunar New Year period and beyond.
At DACHSER, we are committed to ensuring the flow of goods before, during, and after the holiday.
For any questions, please reach out to your local DACHSER representative to plan the next steps.