At Blaiklock, we are already seeing a significant increasein freight bookings ahead of the holiday. Businesses are bringing plansforward, and demand for space is building.

Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6^th February2027, but the slowdown can begin before then and continue afterwards. Factory closures, reduced staffing and changing transport schedules can all interrupt the movement of goods. Each supplier will have its own arrangements, making their production and reopening dates an important part of your planning.

As demand increases, available space can tighten and freight rates can rise. For your business, that could mean more than a higher transport bill. A delayed shipment could hold up production, leave customers waiting or result in lost sales.

The earlier you plan, the more options you have. Leave itlater, and those choices can narrow.

Good planning starts with understanding your business. Which products are critical? What are your delivery deadlines? Where is there flexibility, and where would a delay have serious consequences?

Not every shipment needs to move early or use the fastest service. Bringing stock forward unnecessarily can increase storage costs and tie up cash. Equally, the lowest freight rate may offer little value if the goods arrive too late. The right decision depends on the full cost to your business.

Start with when your goods need to arrive and work backwards. Confirm when suppliers can have orders ready, their final collection dates and when production will resume. Allow time for transport and customs clearance, then check which orders need priority and which can wait.

At Blaiklock, those details guide our decisions. We question the obvious route, explore alternatives and look for the right balance between cost, reliability and speed. That might mean bringing a critical order forward, moving an urgent part separately or keeping a flexible shipment on a slower service.

Our responsibility is to explain those choices clearly, work towards competitive rates and keep clients informed as plans develop. Understanding what each shipment means to the business helps us protect it from unnecessary cost and disruption. That is how we build trust beyond an individual quote.

Preparing for Chinese New Year starts well before the holiday. With priorities understood and a clear plan in place, your business has more control over decisions, greater consistency in supply and confidence in what comes next.

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