Shipping lead times and how to plan
Lead time is more than transit time. Here is what makes up the timeline and how to plan around it — including Chinese holidays.
Lead time is not just transit time
The gap between placing an order and having goods on your shelf is longer than the shipping leg alone. It includes production, booking freight, the transit itself, customs clearance and final delivery.
Planning to the transit time only is the classic way to run out of stock.
The pieces of the timeline
A typical order runs: sampling and approval, then production (often a few weeks), then sea transit of roughly 30–40 days door to door — or a few days by air — plus clearance and delivery.
Add a buffer for the unexpected: a failed inspection that needs rework, or a busy shipping period, can each add time.
Plan around Chinese holidays
Two periods reliably disrupt timing. Chinese New Year (late January or February) closes most factories for one to two weeks, with a capacity crunch either side. The National Day 'Golden Week' in early October has a similar, shorter effect.
Orders that need to land in Q1 should usually be placed well before Chinese New Year, not into it.
How to plan
Work backwards from the date you need stock, add up each stage, and add a safety margin. For predictable lines, ordering earlier and shipping by sea protects both your timeline and your margin.
Keep air freight as the lever for genuine emergencies rather than the default.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I order?
Work back from when you need stock: production plus roughly 30–40 days sea transit plus clearance, then add a buffer. For sea shipments, planning two to three months ahead is sensible.
Does Chinese New Year really affect timing?
Yes, significantly. Factories close for one to two weeks and are busy on either side, so build it into any plan that spans late January or February.