China’s Golden Week is approaching, and businesses importing from China should start planning now to minimise potential disruption to their supply chains.
In 2026, China’s National Day Golden Week will run from Thursday 1 October to Wednesday 7 October, with businesses across the country expected to close or operate with significantly reduced staffing during the holiday period.
This year there is an additional consideration for importers. China’s Mid-Autumn Festival takes place from Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September, meaning there are only three normal weekdays between the two holiday periods.
For businesses sourcing goods from China, that makes forward planning particularly important.
What Does Golden Week Mean For Shipping?
Golden Week is one of China’s major national holidays. While ports and some logistics infrastructure may continue operating, many factories, suppliers, warehouses and offices close or work with reduced staffing.
In the run-up to the holiday, manufacturers and exporters typically work to complete production and dispatch orders before the shutdown. This creates a surge in demand for both ocean and air freight capacity as businesses compete to get cargo moving before 1 October.
The result can be tighter space, earlier booking cut-offs, container and equipment pressure, and an increased risk of cargo being rolled to later sailings.
The disruption does not necessarily end when Golden Week finishes. With factories and logistics providers working through accumulated orders after the holiday, it can take time for normal production and shipping schedules to settle.
Don’t Leave Your Bookings Until The Last Minute
If you have goods that need to leave China during September or early October, we strongly recommend speaking to your freight forwarder as early as possible.
Where possible:
• Finalise purchase orders and production schedules early
• Confirm cargo-ready dates with suppliers
• Book ocean or air freight space in advance
• Allow additional time within your supply chain
• Avoid relying on departures immediately before or after the holiday
This is particularly important for urgent shipments or stock required in the UK by a fixed deadline.
Powercargo Can Help You Plan Ahead
With the Mid-Autumn Festival immediately preceding the Golden Week period, late September and early October could be a challenging period for China-origin shipments.
The earlier we know about your upcoming cargo, the more options we have to secure suitable space and help minimise disruption.
If you have shipments planned from China over the coming weeks, contact the Powercargo team now to discuss your requirements and get your bookings in place ahead of Golden Week.
- Email us via info@powercargo.co.uk
- Call us on 020 3334 9891
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