04.09.2024
From October 1 to 7, most businesses and factories in China will be closed for the National Day Golden Week holiday. As one of the world’s most important economies, this extended shutdown can significantly impact the international supply chain. It’s important to start preparing now to minimize potential disruptions.
What is Golden Week? Golden Week is a 7-day national holiday in China that celebrates the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on October 1. The holiday lasts from October 1 to October 7, during which many Chinese people travel for leisure or visit family across the country. Like many other businesses, DACHSER in China will be closed during Golden Week and will resume normal operations on October 8.
What happens during Golden Week? Most businesses and factories will be closed during the week-long holiday, meaning that production will be at halt. Airports and seaports will keep operating but with reduced manpower due to low production volume from factories. Normally government institutions such as customs offices will be closed from October 1 to 3.
Since China, one of the world’s biggest economies and production countries, will come to a standstill for a whole week and factories may not run at full capacity as soon as the official holiday ends, the plunge of production volume would have an impact to the worldwide supply chain.
How to minimize the impact of Golden Week? To help reduce potential interruptions to your supply chain during Golden Week, consider the following steps:
- Communicate with your suppliers and customers to make arrangements for sufficient stock and manage expectations
- Discuss your planning with us and prepare an accurate shipment forecast for long-term planning, so we can offer you the most suitable solution that fits your budget and schedule
- Place your booking earlier and pay attention to the cut-off dates.
- For sea freight, it is recommended to book 4-6 weeks before the start of holiday
- For air freight, it is recommended to book 1-2 weeks before the start of holiday
If you have any questions, please get in touch with your usual local DACHSER contact who will be happy to assist and plan the next steps with you together.