September 2, 2025

Golden Week in China 2025: What it Means for Your Supply Chain

Every year on October 1, China celebrates National Day, marking the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This date also signals the start of Golden Week—a major national holiday that typically spans October 1–7.

During Golden Week, factories shut down, workers return home, and logistics operations across China slow significantly. This annual pause can have a major ripple effect on global supply chains—especially for businesses reliant on Chinese manufacturing.

What Golden Week Means for Supply Chains

In the weeks leading up to Golden Week, there’s a surge in production and shipments as importers race to get goods out of China before factories close. This rush—compounded by already tight peak season demand—can quickly strain capacity across all modes of transport:

• Freight space becomes limited
• Ocean and airfreight rates spike
• Carriers become overbooked
• Cargo rollovers become more common
• Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) and General Rate Increases (GRI) may apply.
• Trucking demand increases, driving up inland transport costs

Once the holiday begins, many carriers will announce blank sailings (canceled departures) to match reduced volumes, which further tightens space in the weeks that follow.

How to Prepare for Golden Week Shipping Disruptions

To minimize delays and avoid additional costs, it's critical to plan ahead. Here’s how you can stay on track:

Book Early

• Ocean Freight: Reserve space 3–4 weeks before October 1
• Air Freight: Book shipments at least 1 week in advance

Share Your Forecast

• Communicate volume expectations and key shipments with your logistics provider as early as possible

Prioritize and Plan

• Let your provider know which shipments are time-sensitive
• Pay for cargo early—shipments arriving during the holiday must be cleared in advance to avoid storage fees

Stay Flexible

• Consider alternate ports, longer transit time services, or transloading options to improve your chances of moving cargo
• Airfreight may be the only option for urgent deliveries, but be prepared for high rates and limited space

Golden Week is one of the most important holidays on the logistics calendar. While it creates a predictable annual disruption, proactive planning can help you stay ahead of delays, fees, and service interruptions.

Work closely with your Crane advisor, share forecasts early, and build flexibility into your routing and timelines. With the right strategy, you can minimize the impact of Golden Week—and keep your supply chain running smoothly.