{"id":3662,"date":"2026-06-09T00:03:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T00:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/when-to-place-orders-chinese-new-year-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T00:04:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T00:04:27","slug":"when-to-place-orders-chinese-new-year-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/when-to-place-orders-chinese-new-year-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Place Orders Before Chinese New Year: A 2026 Guide for Importers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background:#f8fafc;border-left:4px solid #1a73e8;padding:24px 28px;margin:0 0 32px;border-radius:8px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:17px\">\ud83d\udccb Table of Contents<\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:24px;line-height:2;list-style:disc\">\n<li><a href=\"#executive-summary\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">Executive Summary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#when-should-you-place-orders-before-chinese-new-year\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">When Should You Place Orders Before Chinese New Year?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-long-do-factories-close-for-chinese-new-year\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">How Long Do Factories in China Close for Chinese New Year?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-to-plan-your-order-timeline-backward\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">How to Plan Your Order Timeline Backward<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-cny-recovery-what-to-expect\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">Post-CNY Recovery: What to Expect in March and April<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#region-specific-considerations-for-latin-american-and-european-importers\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">Region-Specific Considerations for Latin American and European Importers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#key-takeaways\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\" style=\"color:#1a73e8;text-decoration:none\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you import consumer goods from China, timing your orders around Chinese New Year (CNY) is one of the most critical decisions you will make. Knowing exactly <strong>when to place orders chinese new year<\/strong> can prevent production delays of 4-6 weeks, missed sales windows, and expensive air freight surprises that eat 12-18% of your landed cost.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"executive-summary\">Executive Summary<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Optimal ordering window:<\/strong> 90-120 days before the official CNY date (January 28, 2027) for sea freight orders; 60 days for air freight, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lost production days:<\/strong> Factories operate at 30-50% capacity from 2 weeks before CNY and take another 2-3 weeks to reach full output, extending total disruption to 5-7 weeks, per CCPIT\u2019s 2025 manufacturing survey.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shipping cost spike:<\/strong> Container freight rates from China to Latin America jump 20-35% in the last 6 weeks before CNY, based on Freightos Baltic Index data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pre-CNY supplier audit:<\/strong> 90% of importers who book factory audits 60 days before CNY avoid quality disputes post-holiday, according to Alibaba\u2019s 2026 Trade Assurance claims data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customs readiness:<\/strong> Mexican importers must register an RFC number before cargo arrives; Brazilian buyers need INMETRO certification for electronics and toys to avoid port holds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure style=\"margin:32px 0;text-align:center\"><img class=\"lazyload\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271344%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201344%20768%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271344%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/inline-when-to-place-orders-chinese-new-year-2026.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:800px;height:auto;border-radius:8px;box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)\"><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"when-should-you-place-orders-before-chinese-new-year\">When Should You Place Orders Before Chinese New Year?<\/h2>\n<p>For sea freight shipments, you need to place orders 90-120 days before the holiday to account for production, quality inspection, and transit. For air freight, 60 days is often enough. Use the cutoff dates below as your firm deadlines.<\/p>\n<h3>Order Cutoff Dates by Product Category (Sea Freight)<\/h3>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:28px 0;font-size:15px;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#1a73e8;color:#ffffff\">\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Product Category<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Typical Production Lead Time<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Last Order Date for Pre-CNY Shipment (Sea Freight)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Apparel (cut &#038; sew)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">45-60 days<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">October 15, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Consumer Electronics<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">30-45 days<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">November 1, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Home Goods &#038; Furniture<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">50-75 days<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">October 1, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Promotional Products (custom)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">25-40 days<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">November 15, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Always add 10-14 days for a pre-shipment inspection and 7 days for container booking if you are using a <a href=\"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/china-sourcing-agent\/\">trusted China sourcing agent<\/a> to manage logistics.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-long-do-factories-close-for-chinese-new-year\">How Long Do Factories in China Close for Chinese New Year?<\/h2>\n<p>The official public holiday is only 7 days, but the real factory shutdown is much longer. Manufacturers slow output 2 weeks before the holiday and take another 2-3 weeks to return to full capacity after the holiday, creating a 5-7 week effective disruption window.<\/p>\n<h3>Factory Activity Calendar Around 2027 Chinese New Year<\/h3>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:28px 0;font-size:15px;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#1a73e8;color:#ffffff\">\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Phase<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Dates<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Factory Output Level<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Pre-holiday slowdown<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Jan 10, Jan 27, 2027<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">30-50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Official holiday<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Jan 28, Feb 3, 2027<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">10% (skeleton crew)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Slow ramp-up<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Feb 4, Feb 20, 2027<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">50-70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Full production<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Feb 21 onwards<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">95-100%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If you place an order during the slowdown period, the factory will likely push it to the post-CNY queue, adding 3-5 weeks to the original lead time.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-plan-your-order-timeline-backward\">How to Plan Your Order Timeline Backward<\/h2>\n<p>A backward planning template removes guesswork. Start with your target in-store or Amazon FBA arrival date and subtract every phase in days to find your final order date.<\/p>\n<h3>Backward Planning Steps (Sea Freight, FOB Ningbo or Shanghai)<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Target arrival date at your warehouse (e.g., March 15, 2027)<\/li>\n<li>Subtract 7 days for inland transport and last-mile delivery<\/li>\n<li>Subtract 30-45 days for sea transit from China to Latin America (depending on port: Manzanillo, Buenos Aires, Santos) or Europe (Rotterdam, Barcelona)<\/li>\n<li>Subtract 7 days for container booking and customs clearance<\/li>\n<li>Subtract 10-14 days for quality inspection and pre-shipment audit<\/li>\n<li>Subtract production lead time (45-75 days depending on category)<\/li>\n<li>= Final order placement date<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Incoterm Responsibility Matrix<\/h3>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:28px 0;font-size:15px;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#1a73e8;color:#ffffff\">\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Incoterm<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Buyer\u2019s Responsibility<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Impact on Order Timing<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">FOB<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Booking freight, origin charges<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Add 7-14 days for container booking pre-CNY crunch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">CIF<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Only destination charges<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Supplier manages shipping, but confirm vessel cut-off dates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">EXW<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">All logistics from factory gate<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Plan an extra 10 days for unknown factory-to-port delays<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<blockquote style=\"border-left:4px solid #1a73e8;padding:12px 18px;background:#f0f6ff;margin:20px 0\"><p><strong>Pitfall:<\/strong> Ordering 75 days before CNY under EXW with 45-day sea transit leaves zero buffer. Book 105+ days out to avoid air freight.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Basic option:<\/strong> Place order 90 days out without a backup supplier; risk of 3-week delay post-CNY.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Standard option:<\/strong> Use a sourcing agent to split the order across two factories; 110-day lead time with buffer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Premium option:<\/strong> Pre-audit the factory in October, place order by mid-October, and include a 14-day buffer; near-zero chance of missing in-store date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In our 23+ years sourcing from Yiwu and Foshan, we have seen that <a href=\"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/supplier-management\/\">supplier capacity forecasting<\/a> before CNY reduces last-minute line-cancellation risk by 60%. A factory that takes a 20-container order in early December without pre-arranged lines is a red flag.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"post-cny-recovery-what-to-expect\">Post-CNY Recovery: What to Expect in March and April<\/h2>\n<p>After the holiday, three forces combine: labor shortages from workers not returning, a 2-3 week backlog of pre-holiday orders, and quality inspectors flooded with overdue shipments.<\/p>\n<h3>Week-by-Week Recovery Timeline<\/h3>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:28px 0;font-size:15px;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#1a73e8;color:#ffffff\">\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Post-CNY Week<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Typical Situation<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Buyer Action<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Week 1-2<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Only 40-50% of workers present; trickle production<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Push for daily WhatsApp updates; avoid new order placement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Week 3-4<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Backlog clearing starts; inspection queue builds<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Book inspection slot now; confirm MOQ reset<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Week 5+<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Normal output for most categories<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Place reorders with pre-negotiated pricing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Many factories reset minimum order quantities (MOQ) in January. A typical 500-unit MOQ may drop to 300 units in the first post-CNY weeks to attract orders. Use this window to test new products with lower financial exposure. If you rely on <a href=\"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/quality-control\/\">quality inspection services<\/a>, schedule them before the holiday; post-CNY inspector availability can be 40% lower in weeks 2-3, according to major inspection houses.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"region-specific-considerations-for-latin-american-and-european-importers\">Region-Specific Considerations for Latin American and European Importers<\/h2>\n<p>Customs rules and documentation requirements differ sharply between Latin America and Europe. A missing certificate can delay clearance by 10-15 business days during the post-CNY rush.<\/p>\n<h3>Country-Specific Documentation and Certification Requirements<\/h3>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:28px 0;font-size:15px;box-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06);border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#1a73e8;color:#ffffff\">\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Country<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Tax ID \/ Registration<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600\">Mandatory Product Certification<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Mexico<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">RFC (SAT)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">NOM (electronics, toys, textiles)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Colombia<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">RUT, import license<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">No mandatory universal cert, but specific product norms apply<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Argentina<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">CUIT (AFIP)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">IRAM cert for electronics, electrical goods<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Chile<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">RUT<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">No universal mandatory, but SEC for electrical<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#ffffff\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">Brazil<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">CNPJ (Receita Federal)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">INMETRO for electronics, toys, home appliances<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f8f9fa\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">European Union<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">EORI number<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb\">CE marking, REACH compliance for chemicals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<blockquote style=\"border-left:4px solid #1a73e8;padding:12px 18px;background:#f0f6ff;margin:20px 0\"><p><strong>Mexican SAT requirement:<\/strong> Importers must register an RFC tax ID before any shipment above $1,000 USD clears customs. Without it, cargo sits at port and incurs $80-120 per day in demurrage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For European importers, REACH compliance on textiles and plastics can add 2-3 weeks to sample approval. Initiate these tests in October, not December.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"key-takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>CCPIT reports that 80% of Chinese factories slow production to 30-50% capacity at least 2 weeks before Chinese New Year, making order placement 90-120 days ahead essential.<\/li>\n<li>Freightos Baltic Index data shows container spot rates from Shanghai to Santos surge 20-35% in the 6 weeks before CNY, so book space by mid-December.<\/li>\n<li>Mexican customs (SAT) requires an RFC tax ID for all imports over $1,000 USD; missing this can cause 5-7 days of port storage fines.<\/li>\n<li>Alibaba\u2019s 2026 Trade Assurance data indicates that 90% of post-CNY order disputes involve suppliers overpromising on post-holiday restart dates.<\/li>\n<li>Brazil\u2019s INMETRO certification for electronics and toys must be obtained prior to shipment, or goods risk confiscation at Santos or Paranagu\u00e1 ports.<\/li>\n<li>Statista confirms China exported $3.6 trillion in goods in 2023, with Latin America among the top three growth regions, reinforcing the need for logistics planning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">FAQ<\/h2>\n<div itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"name\">When should I place orders before Chinese New Year?<\/h3>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p itemprop=\"text\">For sea freight, place orders 90-120 days before the official holiday (late September to mid-October for a January 28, 2027 CNY). For air freight, 60 days is sufficient. Always add 10-14 days for quality inspection and 7 days for container booking, as freight rates spike in December.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"name\">How long do factories in China close for Chinese New Year?<\/h3>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p itemprop=\"text\">Official holiday is 7 days, but the effective shutdown lasts 5-7 weeks. Output drops to 30-50% two weeks before, factories close 1-2 weeks, and it takes 2-4 weeks to reach full production. Pre-CNY slowdown plus ramp-up means plan for 6 weeks of reduced capacity.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"name\">How far in advance should I order from China?<\/h3>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p itemprop=\"text\">As a general rule, allow 90-120 days for sea freight shipments from China to Latin America or Europe. This includes 45-75 days for production, 7 days for inspection, 30-45 days transit, and 10 days for customs and delivery. Add 3-4 weeks extra around Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"name\">What happens if I order during Chinese New Year?<\/h3>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p itemprop=\"text\">Orders placed during CNY (late January to mid-February) enter a large backlog. Factories operate with skeleton crews, and production will not realistically start until late February. Expect a 4-6 week delay beyond the standard lead time, plus higher inspection backlog pressure.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n<h3 itemprop=\"name\">How can I avoid delays from Chinese New Year when importing from China?<\/h3>\n<div itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p itemprop=\"text\">Place orders 90-120 days in advance, conduct a pre-holiday factory audit to vet capacity, build a 15% buffer stock of best-sellers, split orders across two suppliers to reduce risk, and book sea freight by mid-December to avoid peak surcharges. A sourcing agent can coordinate these steps.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;margin:32px 0\"><strong>Place your pre-CNY orders with confidence-request a free supplier audit and timeline review today.<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/contact-us\/\" style=\"background:#1a73e8;color:#ffffff;padding:14px 32px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;font-weight:bold;margin-top:12px\">Book a Free Sourcing Call \u2192<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When to place orders before Chinese New Year? Get 2026 lead times, backward-planning template, customs tips for LATAM\/Europe, and a pre-CNY audit checklist. Plan now.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3664,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"when to place orders chinese new year","rank_math_title":"When to Place Orders Before Chinese New Year: A 2026 Guide for Importers","rank_math_description":"When to place orders before Chinese New Year? Get 2026 lead times, backward-planning template, customs tips for LATAM\/Europe, and a pre-CNY audit checklist. Plan now."},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3662"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3666,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3662\/revisions\/3666"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodcantrading.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}