Be well prepared for Chinese New Year 2025

The origins of Chinese New Year (CNY) trace back thousands of years and are deeply rooted in Chinese culture. According to ancient legends, the festival was established to ward off the monster ‘Nian,’ whose name literally means "year." At the start of each new year, Nian would emerge from its hiding place to terrorize villages. However, the villagers discovered that the monster could be driven away by loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. As a result, fireworks, red decorations, and exuberant celebrations have become essential traditions in the observance of Chinese New Year.

Each year, millions of Chinese people travel to their hometowns to celebrate the new year with family, making Chinese New Year one of the largest annual human migrations in the world. This mass movement is known as ‘Chunyun,’ a period when trains, buses, and planes are filled. CNY is not just about welcoming the New Year but also about strengthening family ties, a key value in Chinese culture. For many, this is the only time of the year they get to see their family members.

The logistical impact of Chinese New Year

During the period surrounding Chinese New Year, businesses, government agencies, and factories come to an almost complete standstill. Additionally, shipping lines, airlines, and rail operators cancel many of their regular operations. The effects on global production and transportation are therefore significant:

• Factory Closures: Many factories shut down for up to two weeks, with employees leaving en masse to return to their hometowns.
• Scaling Up for CNY: Companies place large volumes of orders before Chinese New Year, leading to an overload in production and transportation in the weeks leading up to the holiday season.
• Logistical delays: Shipping lines, airlines, and rail operators reduce their capacity as demand for goods significantly decreases during Chinese New Year.

Key dates for CNY 2025 

Chinese New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, which causes the date to vary each year. In 2025, Chinese New Year marks the transition from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake. Although the official public holidays last for seven days, the festivities traditionally conclude with the Lantern Festival, making the celebration a total of 15 days. Key dates:

• Start of Chinese New Year (CNY): Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
• Official public holidays in China: Wednesday, January 29 – Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
• Official public holidays in Hong Kong: Wednesday, January 29 – Saturday, February 1, 2025.
• Lantern Festival (end of celebrations): Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Tips to prepare your supply chain for CNY 2025 

By planning proactively, you can prevent potential bottlenecks in your supply chain. The demand for logistics capacity is always extremely high around Chinese New Year. Companies that book too late risk delays, increased costs, and missed deadlines.

• Plan early and ahead: that transportation is booked well in advance of the holiday period to avoid unexpected delays or disappointments.
• Be flexible: Anticipate potential delays in both production and logistics and adjust your planning accordingly.
• Coordinate with your partners: Inform customers and suppliers well in advance about any changes to delivery timelines.
• Collaborate with experienced partners: Choose logistics providers with expertise in managing supply chains during the CNY period.

At DSV Air & Sea, we understand the challenges of Chinese New Year and are here to help you minimize its impact on your supply chain. Whether it’s ocean freight, air freight, or multimodal solutions, our teams are ready to support you.