Pre-Lunar New Year Air Freight Peak: Shippers Urged to Book Early

(Photo: Phaata)

Freight forwarders are issuing collective recommendations to shippers to promptly secure air cargo capacity ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. This is an urgent measure to avoid delays caused by production halts and capacity constraints across Asia.

This year’s Lunar New Year falls on February 17 and is a significant holiday celebrated widely across the Asia-Pacific region, including China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, and other nations. It is followed by the Lantern Festival on March 3, typically celebrated in China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Recommendations from Scan Global Logistics (SGL): Book 4-7 Days in Advance

Scan Global Logistics (SGL) advises shippers to book air freight at least 4 to 7 days prior to the expected shipment date.

SGL highlighted the widespread impact of the holiday: “During this festive season, many factories and logistics providers pause operations or operate at reduced capacity. This can significantly affect production, warehousing, and freight availability, especially in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.”

Specifically, holiday schedules in key markets are noted as follows: China (Feb 15-23), Hong Kong (Feb 17-19), and Taiwan (Feb 14-22).

Dachser: Prolonged Supply Chain Disruption

Taking a more cautious stance, Dachser recommends booking air cargo one to two weeks in advance. The forwarder pointed out risk factors including early production slowdowns, reduced transport capacity, and lingering market effects, all of which can cause air supply chain delays.

Dachser explained the factory shutdown process: “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.”

A direct consequence of this is adjustments by airlines: “With minimal production from mainland China, carriers deploy less capacity to and from China, impacting schedules.”

The Pre- and Post-Holiday Effect

The impact of the Lunar New Year extends beyond the holiday dates themselves, spreading to both the pre- and post-holiday periods.

Dachser further noted: “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.”

Additionally, for shippers utilizing seafreight, experts advise booking 4 to 6 weeks in advance to ensure schedule reliability.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Air Cargo News)

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