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Golden Week is China’s national holiday week, celebrated annually starting on October 1. This 7-day festival, marked by parades, ceremonies, and other events, sees factories, suppliers, and most businesses across China close down completely.
In the lead-up to October 1, importers rush to finish production and secure pre-Golden Week sailings, leading to limited available space and significant delays on some of the busiest trade routes.
China’s Golden Week is a challenging period for global supply chains. With factories shutting down and port operations slowing, the impact on freight movement can be significant.
Coupled with China's Mid-Autumn/Moon Festival (running from September 15th - 17th), we are likely to see a surge in bookings in the second half of September.
Taking into account that freight rates ex. China are already elevated and capacity tight, it's crucial for supply chain managers to plan ahead.
The right strategy can ensure smooth sailing during the Golden Week holiday period. Here's our expert tips to minimise the impact on your supply chain.
The key to avoiding delays during Golden Week is early planning. With reduced availability and increased demand, booking early is essential. Work closely with your logistics providers to forecast demand and confirm bookings well before the holiday period. This will help you avoid last-minute rate spikes and ensure your shipments stay on schedule.
How we can help: Subscribe to get the latest rate and transit time trend data ex Ningbo, Shanghai and more. Better yet reach out to one of our team members to create a tailored Peak Season/Golden Week plan for your supply chain.
During Golden Week, maintaining real-time visibility of your shipments is more critical than ever. Our advanced container tracking solutions provide you with live updates on your cargo's location, allowing you to anticipate and respond to any potential delays. This enables you to make informed decisions, and maintain effective communication with all stakeholders.
How we can help: If your current system doesn't give you end-to-end shipment visibility, start a free 60 day trial of the Explorate platform. This will enable you to track your sea freight, regardless of forwarder, on a single screen. All you need is a Container Number or MBL to get started.
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Golden Week presents additional challenges in an already difficult market. Work with your freight forwarder, your dedicated operator should know your business and supply chain inside out and be able to both identify potential risks and help develop a strategy to mitigate them.
Top Tip: Consider air freight for urgent cargo. With carriers full and/or rolling bookings currently (especially on lower-cost carriers) it may be necessary to explore othto er options for urgent shipments. Undoubtedly air freight rates will be high in the lead up to Golden Week and space tight, so you'll need to plan ahead to reap the benefits.
China’s Golden Week holiday doesn’t have to derail your supply chain. By planning ahead, utilising container tracking technology, and working with experts, you can ensure that you have all the tools you need to respond to any logistical challenge.
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