The U-Freight Group, which has a strong presence in global trade to and from the Asia-Pacific region for both air and ocean freight encourages shippers to plan ahead and secure capacity well in advance of the Lunar New Year holiday, as factory shutdowns and reduced carrier schedules across Asia are expected to place significant pressure on available capacity.
Lunar New Year falls on 17 February, and is widely observed across the Asia-Pacific region, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. The holiday period is followed by the Lantern Festival on 3 March, extending the overall impact on regional supply chains.
Production slowdowns often begin one to two weeks before the official holiday, with many factories remaining closed for several weeks afterwards. During this period, logistics providers and carriers typically operate reduced schedules, limiting available cargo capacity, impacting flight schedules and increasing the risk of congestion.
U-Freight is recommending that shippers book airfreight space at far in advance ahead of planned shipping dates, as reduced manufacturing output and limited freight availability can lead to delays, particularly in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Official holiday dates vary by market, with China observing the holiday from 15–23 February, Hong Kong from 17–19 February, and Taiwan from 14–22 February.
Forwarders also warn that the Lunar New Year effect extends beyond the holiday itself. Many shippers build inventory ahead of the shutdown, leading to a pre-holiday surge in demand, followed by a slower post-holiday recovery as production gradually resumes. Overall, the disruption can span up to two months.
Shippers moving goods by sea are similarly advised to plan and book early to avoid rolled cargo and extended transit times.
U-Freight encourages customers trading with Asia to review shipping plans now and engage early with our air and ocean freight teams to secure capacity and minimise disruption during the Lunar New Year period.
For more information about the U-Freight Group’s international freight and logistics services to and from the Asia-Pacific region, as well as our network of offices around the world, visit the relevant pages on this website, or speak to your usual contact in our company.
