When to Order Spring Stock from China (Chinese New Year Timeline)
Quick answer: Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February, and most Chinese factories slow down or close for roughly two to four weeks around it. To have decking in your warehouse for April, confirm your order and deposit by mid-December so it can be produced and shipped before the holiday, or book an early slot for production right after the factory reopens in late February.
For decking and fencing distributors in Europe, North America and other northern-hemisphere markets, the season is short. Most sales happen between spring and late summer. Boards that arrive in June miss a large part of the year’s demand.
The biggest scheduling risk for stock coming from China is Chinese New Year. This guide explains how it affects production and shipping, and gives you a simple timeline to work back from the date you need stock on your shelves. For the wider import process, see How to Import WPC Decking from China.
Spring stock is decided in winter: order timing sets when boards reach your shelves.
How Chinese New Year Affects Your Order
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is China’s most important holiday. In 2027 it falls on Saturday 6 February. The official public holiday lasts around a week, but the effect on manufacturing is much longer:
- Before the holiday: factories rush to finish and load orders. Many workers travel home in the days before the festival, so production slows in the final week or two.
- During the holiday: most factories stop production. Ports keep working, but with reduced activity.
- After the holiday: factories reopen over one to two weeks. Some workers return late, and lines take time to return to full speed.
- Shipping: demand for container space peaks in the weeks before the holiday, and freight rates often rise.
In practice, plan for a production gap of roughly two to four weeks, from late January to late February 2027. Ask your supplier for its exact closing and reopening dates once China’s official holiday schedule is announced.
The Spring Rush on Top
Chinese New Year is not the only pressure. From autumn onwards, importers in Europe and North America order their spring stock. Factories that make WPC decking are often fully booked from late autumn until spring. A late order meets two queues: the holiday and everyone else’s spring orders.
Plan Backwards From Your Stock Date
Start from the date you need boards in your warehouse and work backwards.
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Local delivery after arrival | About 1 week |
| Customs clearance at destination | A few days to 1 week |
| Ocean transit | Roughly 2–7 weeks, depending on the route |
| Booking, inspection and loading | About 1 week |
| Production | A few weeks; longer in peak season |
| Order confirmation, deposit and production planning | About 1 week |
Then add the Chinese New Year gap if your production would fall across late January to late February.
Example: stock needed by 1 April 2027, on a 6-week sea route
| Option | Order and deposit confirmed | Production | Loading | Arrives at warehouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before the holiday | By mid-December 2026 | Late December to mid-January | Mid to late January | Mid to late March |
| After the holiday | Before the holiday, for the first post-holiday slot | Late February to mid-March | Mid to late March | Early to mid May |
The example shows the problem clearly. An order that misses the pre-holiday window will usually arrive weeks after the season has started. Your own route may be shorter or longer, so ask your forwarder for current transit times.
Work back from your stock date, and plan around the Chinese New Year production gap.
If You Are Reading This in Late December
It is not too late, but act quickly:
- Contact your supplier now and ask which slots are still open before the holiday.
- Simplify the order to standard profiles and stock colours, which are fastest to produce.
- Consider a smaller first shipment before the holiday, then a second container right after.
- Book the first post-holiday production slot now, with the deposit, so you are at the front of the queue in late February.
Spring Stock Checklist
- Review last season’s sales by colour and size
- Choose three to five core colours plus any new lines
- Confirm samples and any custom colours early (custom work adds time)
- Agree quantities that meet per-colour minimums
- Plan the container load by weight and length
- Agree the Incoterm and payment terms
- Pay the deposit to lock the production slot
- Book freight early for pre-holiday loadings
- Arrange inspection before loading
- Prepare import documents and customs broker
For each step, these guides go into more detail: MOQ, lead time and payment terms, container loading and FOB vs CIF vs DDP.
Smart Habits for Next Season
- Share a seasonal forecast with your supplier. Factories can plan raw materials and production slots when they know what is coming.
- Split the season into two or three containers rather than one large order, timed around the holiday.
- Keep safety stock of your best-selling colours.
- Talk early about new colours or products, ideally in autumn, so samples are approved before the rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February 2027.
How long do Chinese factories close for Chinese New Year?
Most stop or slow production for roughly two to four weeks, including the days before the holiday when workers travel home and the time it takes to return to full output afterwards.
When should I order decking from China for spring?
For stock in April, confirm your order and deposit by around mid-December so it can be produced and shipped before the holiday. Later orders usually ship from March onwards.
Do freight rates go up before Chinese New Year?
Often, yes. Demand for container space peaks in the weeks before the holiday, so book freight early.
Can a factory produce my order during Chinese New Year?
Usually not. Most production lines stop during the holiday. Plan your order to load before it or to start production right after.
Lock In Your Spring Slot
Tell us the date you need stock and your destination, and we will tell you which production slot fits.
- Request a quote and production slot
- Explore our composite decking and fencing ranges