Local Holidays That Can Delay Shipments: A Guide for Global Traders and Sourcing Agents

In global trade and sourcing, timing is everything. One overlooked delay can disrupt entire supply chains, increase costs, and strain client relationships. One of the most common—yet often underestimated—causes of delays is local holidays.

Whether you’re sourcing textiles from Bangladesh, electronics from Vietnam, or automotive parts from Thailand, it’s critical to understand how national holidays affect production, freight, and customs operations. This blog will explore key holidays across major sourcing countries, the risks they pose, and how professional sourcing agents can help mitigate the impact.

Why Local Holidays Disrupt Shipments

While global traders focus on currency rates and customs procedures, local holidays often slip under the radar. During holidays:

• Factories shut down or reduce capacity

• Port operations and customs clearance may be suspended

• Trucking and warehousing slow down

• Communication with suppliers and agents becomes difficult

What makes things trickier is that holiday calendars vary by country, region, and religion—making it crucial for businesses to stay informed year-round.

🔗 Learn how BestSourcing-Agent.com provides real-time holiday and customs updates to clients for smoother logistics planning.

Major Holidays That Impact Global Shipments

Here’s a breakdown of some key holidays in major sourcing hubs and how they affect operations:

1. Chinese New Year (CNY) – China, Taiwan, Singapore

• When: January or February (dates vary)

• Duration: 1-2 weeks (factories close for up to a month)

• Impact:

  • Complete factory shutdown

  • Surge in pre-CNY orders leads to bottlenecks

  • Port congestion and container shortages

📘 Tip: Finalize orders at least 8 weeks before CNY and expect delays post-holiday as workers may not return immediately.

🔗 Stay updated on China’s trade calendar via China Briefing

2. Tet (Lunar New Year) – Vietnam

• When: January or February (same period as CNY)

• Duration: 7-10 days (often longer in practice)

• Impact:

  • Vietnam’s largest holiday: near-total business closure

  • Port and customs authorities operate on skeleton crews

🔗 See how Vietnam-Agent.com helps clients navigate Tet-related production pauses.

3. Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr – Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia

• When: Varies (based on Islamic calendar)

• Duration: Ramadan (1 month fasting) followed by Eid (1 week holiday)

• Impact:

  • Slower production during Ramadan (shorter work hours)

  • Complete shutdown during Eid

  • Port delays in Muslim-majority regions

🔗 Check current Islamic calendar with TimeandDate.com

4. Songkran (Thai New Year) – Thailand

• When: April 13–15 (can extend to a full week)

• Impact:

  • Factory closures

  • Minimal staffing at ports and logistics hubs

  • Delivery delays within Thailand

🔗 Learn more about Thai supply chains during Songkran at Thailand-Agent.com

5. Golden Week – Japan and China

• When (Japan): End of April to early May

• When (China): October 1–7

• Impact:

  • Congested ports and slower shipping

  • Increase in outbound demand leads to rate spikes

  • Manufacturing backlogs

🔗 See Japan’s official holiday list at Japan-guide.comhttp://Japan-guide.com

6. Diwali – India

• When: October or November

• Duration: 5 days (but businesses may shut down for up to a week)

• Impact:

  • Labor shortages

  • Reduced truck availability

  • Slower customs processing

🔗 Check how India-Agent.com provides Diwali shutdown forecasts for factory sourcing and scheduling.

7. Christmas & New Year – Western Europe, U.S., Philippines

• When: December 24 to January 1

• Impact:

  • Carrier shutdowns (especially air freight)

  • Limited warehouse and port staffing

  • Global rate hikes during peak season

📌 Tip: Avoid planning urgent shipments in late December unless premium logistics options are pre-booked.

How to Mitigate Delays Caused by Local Holidays

1. Work with Local Sourcing Agents

Professional agents act as your eyes and ears on the ground. They notify you about:

• Holiday calendars and their regional variations

• Order cutoff dates before holidays

• Supplier lead time extensions

🔗 Explore Agent Services that include scheduling, inspections, and logistics planning.

2. Use a Holiday Calendar for Planning

Integrate a multi-country holiday calendar into your supply chain planning tools or spreadsheets. Tools like iCalendar or Notion can help sync global schedules for team-wide visibility.

3. Communicate Early with Suppliers and Freight Forwarders

Ask for:

• Supplier vacation dates

• Planned dispatches and loading schedules

• Carrier cutoffs for bookings

This proactive communication helps avoid surprises in production or freight timing.

4. Diversify Your Supplier Base

Using a dual-sourcing strategy across countries with different holiday calendars can minimize downtime. For example, balancing orders between Vietnam and India can help avoid complete shutdowns during Tet or Diwali.

🔗 Learn about The Rise of Dual-Sourcing Amid Global Tensions

Final Thoughts

In global trade, delays are inevitable—but predictable ones like holiday shutdowns can be mitigated with careful planning. By aligning production timelines, logistics schedules, and buyer expectations around local holiday calendars, businesses can reduce risk and build more resilient supply chains.

Partnering with experienced sourcing agents like BestSourcing-Agent.com ensures your business stays informed, agile, and ready to deliver—even when the world pauses for celebration.

📦 Need help avoiding shipment delays due to local holidays?
Get a customized sourcing calendar and logistics plan today at BestSourcing-Agent.com.