Chinese New Year has a unique impact on supply chains every year, and 2026 will be particularly special. Unlike most years when Valentine’s Day Sale comes after the holiday, in 2026 Valentine’s Day arrives first and Chinese New Year follows shortly afterward. This creates a longer period of continuous demand while many suppliers in China are preparing to close for the holiday.
Although the official holiday runs from February 15 to February 23, factories and local logistics usually slow down well before that date because many workers start returning to their hometowns early. As a result, production capacity decreases and shipping services become limited weeks before the holiday actually begins.
For dropshipping sellers, this means inventory preparation cannot wait until February. Delayed stocking may lead to out-of-stock products, slower fulfillment and shipping delays, especially during a time when demand for Valentine’s Day products is still active.
The good news is that with overseas warehouses and flexible stocking options offered by CJdropshipping, sellers can continue operating during both seasons. In this guide, we will look at why early preparation matters, what risks to avoid and how to build a realistic stocking strategy for Chinese New Year 2026.
When Is Chinese New Year 2026 and Why It Matters
Chinese New Year also known as the Spring Festival is the most important traditional holiday in China and other Asian regions. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is celebrated by millions of families through reunions, festivals and travel. Each year is associated with a zodiac animal and 2026 will be the Year of the Horse which traditionally symbolizes energy, progress and good fortune. Families gather, people travel long distances to return home and many businesses pause their operations during this period. For the eCommerce supply chain this creates a seasonal slowdown that every seller should be aware of.
In 2026, the official holiday period in China will run from February 15 to February 23, with Chinese New Year Day on February 17. What makes the 2026 schedule unusual for eCommerce sellers is that Valentine’s Day takes place just one day before the holiday begins. That means product demand for Valentine’s Day may overlap directly with the early slowdown of factories preparing for Chinese New Year. Even though this looks like a nine day official break, the real pause in production usually starts much earlier. Many factory workers begin their travel home one or two weeks before the holiday and domestic logistics services gradually reduce capacity as the holiday approaches.
After the holiday, it often takes additional days or even weeks for factories and logistics companies to resume normal operations. Some suppliers reopen later than expected and there may be significant backlog waiting to be processed before new orders can be fulfilled. Because of this, the actual impact of Chinese New Year on manufacturing and shipping can extend well beyond the official dates.
For dropshipping sellers this means that waiting until February to place orders is usually too late. Preparing your inventory earlier helps you avoid product shortages, fulfillment delays and shipping disruptions so your store can operate smoothly throughout the holiday season. At the same time, it is still important not to stock more than your actual demand, as the goal is to stay prepared rather than overcommitted.
Common Supply Chain Challenges During CNY
Chinese New Year affects manufacturing, logistics and fulfillment in ways that can slow down your entire operation if you are not prepared. Understanding these challenges early helps you plan ahead and avoid unnecessary interruptions. Here are the most common issues dropshippers face during the CNY period:
1. Factories Close Earlier Than Expected
Although the official holiday lasts only a few days, many factories start shutting down production one to two weeks earlier. Workers need time to travel home, and production lines gradually reduce capacity until they stop completely. This means orders placed late may not be produced or shipped before the holiday.
2. Limited Domestic Logistics
Local couriers in China also scale back their services as the holiday approaches. Fewer trucks operate, transportation schedules become limited and parcel processing slows down. Even if your supplier has inventory, shipping within China may still be delayed.
3. Post-Holiday Backlog
After the holiday ends, factories and logistics services return gradually rather than immediately. Many suppliers face a large backlog of accumulated orders that must be cleared before new ones can be processed. This often results in slower restocking even weeks after reopening.
4. Sudden Inventory Shortages
When production stops, shortages of popular products become common. Suppliers prioritize large-volume buyers, which can leave smaller dropshippers waiting longer than usual. This can disrupt advertising and cause missed sales opportunities during the CNY period.
5. Slower International Shipping
International shipping capacity is often affected due to increased demand and reduced domestic transportation. Transit times may be longer, tracking updates slower and arrival dates less predictable when parcels originate from China close to the holiday.
6. Increased Customer Service Pressure
When shipments take longer than usual, customer inquiries, tracking requests and refund demands can rise. Without a stable fulfillment plan, sellers may struggle to respond quickly and maintain customer satisfaction.
Understanding these challenges helps you plan earlier, adjust your inventory strategy and avoid preventable issues during Chinese New Year 2026.
Why Preparing Early Gives You a Strategic Advantage
Chinese New Year affects every seller who sources from China, but the sellers who prepare early are usually the ones who continue operating without interruption. Instead of reacting to delays when they happen, preparing in advance allows you to stay in control and keep fulfilling orders normally. Here are the main advantages of planning ahead:
1. Ensure Inventory Is Ready Before Supply Slows Down
Factories receive a high volume of orders right before Chinese New Year and many products become unavailable very quickly. Early preparation helps you secure the inventory you need while suppliers are still fully operational.
2. Keep Fulfilling Orders During the Holiday Period
When inventory is arranged in advance, you are able to continue shipping during the holiday instead of putting your store on pause. This helps prevent sudden gaps in fulfillment and maintains a positive buying experience for customers.
3. Protect Delivery Speed and Customer Satisfaction
Longer delivery times and order delays are common during Chinese New Year. When your stock is already in place, you can continue offering fast delivery and avoid negative reviews caused by unexpected shipping issues.
4. Control Logistics Costs Instead of Paying Peak Prices
Shipping rates often increase as the holiday approaches. Preparing early gives you time to use more affordable options such as sea freight rather than relying on urgent transportation right before the holiday.
5. Continue Selling While Others Slow Down
Many sellers reduce marketing activities due to lack of inventory during Chinese New Year. When you prepare early, you can continue promoting your products, capturing sales and gaining new customers while others temporarily slow down.
6. Plan Inventory Based on Real Demand
Preparing early does not mean placing large orders without thinking. It means reviewing your best selling products, estimating demand and arranging stock according to your own situation. This keeps your store ready without creating unnecessary financial pressure.
Early planning is not only about avoiding problems but also about creating an advantage. While the supply chain becomes limited for many sellers, your business can continue operating smoothly and maintaining customer trust throughout the holiday period.
How CJdropshipping Helps You Stay Operational During Chinese New Year
While many factories and logistics providers in China pause or slow down during Chinese New Year, CJdropshipping continues operating to support your business. CJ’s overseas warehouses including the four warehouses in the United States remain open during the entire holiday period, which means orders stored overseas can continue shipping normally. Meanwhile, CJ’s domestic warehouses and support team in China arrange daily shifts throughout the holiday so that inquiries, sourcing requests and fulfillment needs can still receive timely responses.
During this period, having a dependable fulfillment partner makes a real difference between keeping your store active and pausing sales. CJ aims to help sellers stay ahead of seasonal supply chain disruptions with flexible and scalable solutions designed specifically for international ecommerce needs.
Beyond fulfillment, CJ operates an extensive global warehouse network across the United States, Europe and Asia, and also cooperates with trusted suppliers worldwide. CJ's global warehouse network helps keep inventory closer to your customers, reduce dependency on China based shipping during the holiday and ensure faster delivery even when local production slows down.
1. US Warehouses for Faster Local Fulfillment During CNY
CJdropshipping has its own overseas warehouses, including ones not only in the EU and Asia, but also four major locations in the United States: California, New Jersey, Texas and Indiana. These warehouses continue working through the Chinese New Year period, allowing you to ship locally to US customers within a few days. This setup helps protect your fulfillment speed when China based operations are temporarily unavailable.
By preparing Chinese New Year inventory in CJ’s US warehouses, you can:
- Continue fulfilling orders while factories are closed;
- Reduce international shipping delays;
- Serve customers faster during holiday disruptions...
2. Partnered Warehouses for Global Coverage
In addition to CJ’s own warehouses, the platform also works with trusted partnered suppliers who store inventory in different regions worldwide. These partnered warehouses are not influenced by the Chinese New Year slowdown in China, giving sellers more options to place inventory closer to customers and remain operational throughout the holiday.
This can help:
- Diversify your fulfillment locations;
- Reduce supply chain interruptions;
- Keep products available when domestic production pauses...
3. 30% Deposit Inventory Order for Flexible Stocking
Preparing inventory early is important during Chinese New Year, but it does not mean you have to commit to full payment upfront. To make stocking easier and reduce financial pressure, CJdropshipping offers a 30% deposit inventory option. This allows you to secure products in advance while keeping most of your budget available for marketing and operations.
You only pay a small portion of the inventory value in advance to reserve stock in the warehouse. The remaining amount is settled gradually as your customer orders are processed, and once the reserved items have been fully sold and fulfilled, the deposit is credited back to your account for future use. This approach makes it easier to secure inventory early while keeping your cash flow flexible.
Here is how this approach can help your preparation:
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Reserve inventory before factories pause production;
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Reduce cash flow pressure when stocking early;
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Avoid product shortages once demand remains active;
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Secure reliable fulfillment without overcommitting...
This option is especially useful if you want to prepare for Chinese New Year but prefer to balance inventory investment with other business expenses. It gives you more control over your budget and helps you stay prepared without unnecessary stocking risks.
4. Access to a Broad Product Range and Reliable Supply Sources
When preparing for Chinese New Year, product availability can become unpredictable, especially for items that are in high seasonal demand. CJdropshipping provides access to a wide selection of products across various categories, including everyday items and seasonal products suitable for holiday marketing. This gives you the flexibility to plan campaigns, test trends and keep your store active even when certain suppliers pause production.
At the same time, CJ works with multiple supply sources, including its own inventory and trusted partner suppliers worldwide. This helps ensure continuity during the CNY period and allows you to select the products that best match your store needs without relying on a single supplier.
5. Continuous Support When Many Suppliers Are Offline
One of the main concerns during Chinese New Year is that many factories and suppliers in China temporarily close, which makes communication difficult just when you need updates the most. To reduce this uncertainty, CJdropshipping arranges staff shifts in its China-based operations and keeps fulfillment running, so sellers can continue receiving assistance throughout the holiday.
This includes support with sourcing requests, inventory coordination and fulfillment updates, allowing you to manage your business even when most suppliers are unavailable. Having responsive support available during the holiday gives sellers more confidence and helps maintain a smoother workflow during a period when communication is normally limited.
6. Customized Logistics Planning for Chinese New Year
Every store may face different challenges during Chinese New Year depending on product types, market location and expected order volume. To help sellers plan more efficiently, CJdropshipping provides customized logistics solutions tailored to your business needs. This can include recommending suitable warehouses, arranging alternative shipping routes and helping you place inventory in the most effective locations ahead of the holiday.
Discussing your plan with your CJ agent in advance allows you to prepare for potential delays, choose the right fulfillment strategy and ensure your products continue reaching customers on time throughout the Chinese New Year period.
Final Suggestions Before CNY 2026
Chinese New Year affects both supply and shipping, so the earlier you prepare, the smoother your store will operate. At the same time, the period immediately after CNY is also a strong commercial season due to Valentine’s Day, which makes smart planning even more valuable. Consider the following suggestions before entering 2026:
1. Focus on your core products
Identify products with stable sales and prioritize stocking the ones that have proven demand. These are the safest to prepare ahead.
2. Coordinate with your CJ agent early
Ask about production timelines, warehouse recommendations and inventory forecasts before factories start slowing down.
3. Use sea freight when possible
Arranging sea shipping ahead of time helps you lower costs and avoid price increases as the holiday approaches.
4. Consider the 30 percent deposit option
If you prefer to protect your liquidity, reserving inventory with a deposit helps ensure supply without heavy upfront spending.
5. Avoid overstocking
Prepare enough inventory to stay operational, but avoid ordering beyond your realistic capacity. Preparation should be strategic, not excessive.
6. Bonus Tip: Combined Strategy for Valentine’s Day and CNY 2026
One unique feature of the 2026 calendar is that Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year occur almost back-to-back, which creates continuous buying interest throughout February. This offers sellers an opportunity to run seasonal promotions in sequence rather than treating them as two unrelated events.
To make the most of this period, consider:
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choosing products that fit both romantic and festive themes;
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preparing inventory based on combined demand;
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scheduling marketing early to avoid production slowdowns;
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promoting Valentine’s Day early before supply tightens.
A combined approach allows you to enter February with enough inventory and a more flexible sales plan, rather than rushing to restock while factories are already slowing down.
Smart Planning Now, Smoother Operations During CNY 2026
Preparing for Chinese New Year is something sellers face every year, but 2026 demands extra attention because Valentine’s Day arrives just before the holiday begins. This means product demand may increase at the same time factories and logistics in China are already slowing down. The earlier you plan, the easier it becomes to stay operational across both seasons.
Focus on what your store really needs, secure inventory early when factories are still fully active, and take advantage of more cost-effective logistics options such as early sea freight. At the same time, avoid purchasing more than your data supports. Smart preparation is about being ready, not stocking blindly.
With CJdropshipping’s overseas warehouses, flexible inventory solutions and continuous support during the holiday period, you can continue fulfilling orders even when many suppliers are offline. A thoughtful plan today gives your store a much smoother experience in February and helps you enter the post-holiday period with confidence.