For any importer, business owner, or dropshipper sourcing from China, timing isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s the single most critical factor in your supply chain’s success. A shipment booked at the wrong time can result in astronomical costs, excruciating delays, and missed sales opportunities that can set your business back by months. On the other hand, understanding the rhythm of China’s shipping calendar can give you a massive competitive advantage, allowing you to secure lower rates, avoid bottlenecks, and ensure your inventory arrives when you need it most.

Navigating the ebb and flow of international logistics is like riding a wave. You need to know when the tide is high and when it is low. The global shipping industry operates on a seasonal schedule driven by major Chinese national holidays, global retail events, and simple supply and demand. This article is your comprehensive guide to the annual shipping calendar from China. We’ll break down the key periods to watch out for, the reasons behind the fluctuations, and offer actionable strategies to help you navigate each season with confidence.

In this article, we discuss:

1. The Two Major Peak Seasons You Must Know

2. The Best Time to Ship: The “Lull” Seasons

3. Understanding the Factors Driving Seasonal Changes

4. Strategies to Mitigate Risks During Peak Seasons

5. Why a Digital-First Partner Makes all the Difference

6. Your Next Step to Perfectly Timed Imports with Topship

The Two Major Peak Seasons You Must Know

The international shipping calendar is defined by two major peak seasons that create a domino effect of higher rates and longer transit times. Missing these windows or failing to plan for them is a rookie mistake that can be incredibly costly.

Chinese New Year (CNY): The Great Shutdown

This is the single most disruptive event in the Chinese shipping calendar. Also known as the Lunar New Year, this holiday takes place in January or February (the date changes each year). During this period, a massive portion of the Chinese population travels home to be with their families, causing a nationwide shutdown. Factories close for anywhere from two weeks to a month. As a result, production stops completely, and warehouses, trucking services, and ports operate with skeleton staff or shut down entirely.

The impact isn’t just during the holiday itself. It begins well before the first day of celebrations. According to a report from Hapag-Lloyd, “the freight rates peak during the Lunar New Year and the weeks leading up to the celebrations.” Companies around the globe, from small-scale importers to massive retailers, rush to get their goods shipped out before the closures begin. This creates an enormous surge in demand, which, in turn, leads to a shortage of container space and a dramatic spike in freight rates. After the holiday, it takes weeks for factories to ramp up to full capacity and for the backlog of shipments to be cleared.

The Pre-Holiday Rush: Before Golden Week

The second major peak season is driven by global consumer demand. It typically runs from mid-August through October. This period is a furious scramble by importers to get products on shelves in time for major Western retail events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The situation is further compounded by a second, shorter, but no less significant Chinese holiday: Golden Week, which begins on October 1st. As noted by FreightAmigo, “importers rush to complete production and move their shipments before the holiday begins.” Like the CNY, Golden Week is a week-long national holiday during which many factories and logistics providers shut down or reduce operations. The rush to ship before this holiday, combined with the immense pressure to stock up for the fourth quarter creates a perfect storm of limited capacity and soaring prices. As one logistics expert quoted in a Sino-Shipping update stated, “Importers to the U.S. and Canada can capitalize on lower ocean costs now; watch tariff timing and capacity blankings into September.” This perfectly illustrates the narrow window of opportunity and the urgency of the pre-holiday season.

The Best Time to Ship: The “Lull” Seasons

Just as there are peak seasons, there are also quiet periods when shipping is cheaper and more efficient. These are the times smart importers plan to take advantage of.

The Post-CNY Calm: A Window of Opportunity

Following the chaos of the Chinese New Year, there is a period of relative calm. Factory production resumes, but the initial surge of pre-holiday shipments has been cleared. From late March through April, freight rates often dip, and carriers are more willing to negotiate. This is an ideal time to replenish stock without the pressure of a holiday rush. You can secure better rates and experience fewer delays.

The Summer Lull: June and Early July

Another favorable time to ship is during the months of June and early July. Before the holiday rush for Black Friday begins, and after the post-CNY rebound, the market is relatively quiet. Demand for container space is lower, leading to more stable and often cheaper shipping rates. This is the perfect time for businesses that are not directly tied to the fourth-quarter retail frenzy to move their goods. By shipping during this period, you can save a significant amount on freight costs.

Understanding the Factors Driving Seasonal Changes

The seasonal fluctuations in shipping are not random. They are the result of a complex interplay of cultural, economic, and logistical factors.

Factory Closures and Labor Shortages

The most direct cause of seasonal disruption is the mass movement of people. During Chinese holidays like the New Year and Golden Week, millions of workers return to their hometowns. This leads to a complete cessation of manufacturing and a severe shortage of labor at ports and warehouses. The ripple effect is felt globally. A container that would normally be offloaded and processed in a few days might sit for a week, accruing demurrage charges and creating a backlog for future arrivals.

The Global Retail Calendar: Black Friday and Christmas

The entire fourth quarter is dominated by consumer holidays. Retailers and e-commerce sellers worldwide are under pressure to have their inventory ready for massive sales events. This predictable, global demand for goods, which must be fulfilled by Chinese manufacturers, is a primary driver of the mid-year peak season. As a result, logistics companies increase rates with what are known as Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) to manage the surge in volume. For example, a global shipping company like CMA CGM has been known to announce a PSS of over $1,000 per container during the peak season from Asia to West Africa, including Nigeria, as reported by Radarr.Africa.

Supply and Demand Dynamics

At its core, the fluctuation is a simple matter of economics. When demand for freight space far exceeds the available supply—as it does during the pre-CNY and pre-Golden Week rushes—prices inevitably rise. When demand is low, prices fall. This is why a digital platform that can give you real-time quotes based on market conditions is a valuable tool.

Strategies to Mitigate Risks During Peak Seasons

Planning is your most powerful weapon against the unpredictability of seasonal shipping.

Book Early, and Then Book Earlier

This cannot be overstated. For a shipment before the Chinese New Year, you should be booking your cargo space as early as October or November of the previous year. For the Golden Week rush, booking in July or early August is a must. This allows you to secure a slot on a vessel, lock in a rate before it soars, and ensure your cargo doesn’t get “rolled”—a term for when a container is bumped off a scheduled vessel due to a lack of space. As the logistics firm Jenkar states, “the worst thing you can do is leave everything until the last minute.”

Consider Alternate Shipping Methods

During a peak season, sea freight rates can become prohibitively expensive, and transit times can extend far beyond normal. For smaller, higher-value shipments, air freight might be a more viable option. While air freight is typically more expensive, it is significantly faster and often less affected by the extreme port congestion that plagues sea freight during peak seasons. The right logistics partner can help you calculate whether the speed of air freight outweighs the cost, especially for urgent or time-sensitive goods.

Diversify Your Supply Chain

Relying on a single supplier or a single shipping route can be a recipe for disaster. If your primary supplier closes for a holiday or is hit with production issues, your entire business can be put on hold. Consider working with multiple suppliers in different regions of China or even in other countries to spread the risk.

Why a Digital-First Partner Makes all the Difference

Navigating this complex calendar with a traditional agent who gives you a static quote is a massive risk. You need a partner that is agile, transparent, and built for this kind of market. A digital-first platform like Topship provides tools and real-time data that traditional freight forwarders cannot. You can get an instant, all-inclusive quote, book a shipment with a few clicks, and track its progress from the factory floor to your front door. This gives you the control and visibility you need to plan effectively, no matter the season.

Your Next Step to Perfectly Timed Imports with Topship

Understanding the shipping seasons is the first step toward becoming a more successful importer. The next step is to use that knowledge to your advantage. Don’t let a major holiday or a busy retail season derail your business.

Use our shipping cost calculator to get an accurate, real-time quote for your next shipment. Plan your imports during the quiet seasons to save money, and use our platform to book early during the busy seasons to secure your spot.

Ready to take control of your supply chain and ship smarter?

👉 Sign up for free on Topship.africa and start importing with confidence.