How to Prepare for the Chinese New Year 2026 Shutdown
Chinese New Year (CNY) 2026 is coming very soon. You need to act fast.
If you don’t prepare, you will face long delays, empty warehouses, and angry customers.
To avoid trouble, follow these 3 steps:
Order Now: Place your orders before the factories close.
Have a Backup: Know what to do if your main supplier stops working.
Talk to Experts: Stay in close contact with your agent (like DailyFulfill).
The Shutdown Schedule (CNY Timeline)
It is very important to know exactly when the shutdown happens.
Factories in China do not just close for one or two days. They slow down weeks before the holiday. Workers go back to their hometowns, so there are fewer people to make your products.
Here is the simple timeline for 2026:
| Date Range | What is happening? |
| Early February | The Slow Down. Workers start leaving to go home. Production gets very slow. |
| Feb 10 – Feb 14 | The Last Chance. These are the last days to finish making products and ship them out. |
| Feb 15 – Feb 23 | The Shutdown. The official public holiday. Factories are closed. No production. No shipping. |
| Feb 24 – March 3 | Slow Restart. Factories open again, but workers come back slowly. Production is still slow. |
| Mid-March | Back to Normal. Factories are busy and working at full speed again. |
Warning: If you order in late January, your items might not ship until March! You must look at these dates and plan your inventory today.
Why is Everything Delayed? (Supply Chain Problems)
During Chinese New Year, shipping is difficult. Here are the main problems you will see:
Factories Close: No one is making products.
Small Suppliers Disappear: Small sellers on AliExpress might stop answering messages entirely.
No Workers: There are not enough people to pack boxes or drive trucks.
Traffic Jams: Ports and airports get crowded. There are not enough containers for everyone.
High Prices: Shipping costs go up because everyone is rushing.
Bad Quality: Because factories are rushing to finish orders before the holiday, sometimes they make mistakes.
DailyFulfill Solution: We know factories rush during this time. That is why DailyFulfill checks the quality of your products before shipping. We make sure you don’t get bad products just because the factory was in a hurry.
What This Means for Your Dropshipping Business
If you run a dropshipping store, this holiday can be dangerous.
Late Orders: Your customers might wait 30-40 days for a package.
Out of Stock: You might sell a product, only to find out the factory has none left.
Slow Recovery: Even after the holiday, it takes time for factories to catch up.
How to win: You can do better than other sellers. Keep extra stock in the DailyFulfill warehouse, talk to us early, and run sales on items you actually have in stock. This keeps your customers happy while other stores are closed.
Steps to Prepare for the Shutdown
1. Plan Your Inventory (It is Never Too Late)
Ideally, you should start planning months before Chinese New Year. Factories usually slow down 10 to 15 days before the holiday starts.
If you wait too long, you will run out of products.
What to do:
Check Past Sales: Look at how much you sold last month. Guess how much you will sell in February.
Order Enough: Make sure you have enough stock to last through the whole shutdown (about 3-4 weeks).
Important Tip: Usually, we say to order by November or December. If you haven’t ordered yet, do it TODAY. Every hour matters right now.
2. Talk to Your Suppliers (Communicate)
You must talk to your suppliers immediately. You need to know exactly when they stop taking orders.
Suppliers are happy when you ask early because it helps them plan.
Ask them these questions:
“When is the last day you can ship?”
“Do you have enough stock for my orders?”
“When will you be back?”
The Easy Way: If you work with DailyFulfill, we talk to the factories for you. We check the dates and make sure your orders get prioritized before the doors close.
3. Book Your Shipping Early (Secure Freight)
Shipping gets harder and more expensive during Chinese New Year.
Everyone is rushing to ship products at the same time. This means ports get crowded, and prices go up fast.
To avoid high prices and delays:
Book Early: Try to save a spot for your shipping before mid-January.
Watch the Price: Shipping costs can double during this time. For example, some fees go from ¥300 to ¥2,000 per container!
Use an Agent: Work with a shipping expert like DailyFulfill. We know how to find space on planes and ships even when it is busy.
4. Have a Backup Plan (Alternative Suppliers)
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If your main supplier closes, your business stops.
How to stay safe:
Use Warehouses: The best solution is to use a DailyFulfill US or EU warehouse. If your stock is already in the US, it doesn’t matter if China is closed. You can keep shipping fast.
Look Outside China: Some dropshippers use suppliers in countries that do not celebrate this holiday, like Vietnam or India.
Keep a List: Have a list of other suppliers you can call if your main one disappears.
5. Tell Your Customers What to Expect
You need to be honest. If shipping is going to be slow, tell your customers before they buy.
Action Steps:
Website Banners: Put a banner on your site: “Note: Orders may take extra time due to the Lunar New Year holiday.”
Email Reminders: Send an email after they buy to remind them about the wait.
Customer Support: Make sure your team is ready to answer questions like “Where is my order?” all day and night.
Note: Customers like honesty. If you tell them about the delay, they will wait patiently. If you hide it, they will get angry.
You Can Handle This!
You can keep your dropshipping business running smoothly during Chinese New Year 2026 if you act fast.
Get Ready: Order your stock now.
Talk: Ask your suppliers for their schedule.
Be Honest: Tell your customers about delays.
If you prepare well, your sales will stay high, and your customers will be happy.
Need help with the rush? Contact DailyFulfill today. We are here to help you manage inventory, talk to factories, and ship your orders fast—even during the holiday season.
DailyFulfill is your Best Dropshipping Partner
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- 1400+ professional clients
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FAQs
You could wait a long time for your orders. Try to find other suppliers who are not in China. You can also let customers pre-order items so they do not get upset.
Just ask your supplier about their plans. Most suppliers will tell you their holiday dates if you ask them early.
Yes, you can! Use warehouses near you or work with other suppliers. You can also sell digital products. Make sure to tell your customers that shipping might take longer.