Are you planning to visit Yiwu Market and import goods before the holiday? Then freight before Chinese New Year 2027 belongs in your plan from day one. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, and factories, the market and logistics slow down weeks before that date. At the same time, ocean freight rates are moving again after Golden Week, and some lanes now cost far more than others.
This guide combines the latest Drewry World Container Index with our own rate tracking on shipments from Ningbo. You will see where container prices stand now, what we expect from November to January, and how to time your Yiwu trip so your goods sail before the rush. All rates in this article are as of 17 October 2026.
Where container freight rates stand in October 2026
Container rates rebounded after China’s Golden Week holiday. Drewry’s World Container Index for 15 October 2026 shows the following prices per 40ft container:
- Composite index: $4,485, up 3% in one week
- Shanghai to Los Angeles: $7,884, up 3%
- Shanghai to Rotterdam: $3,522, up 6%
Asia–Europe rates rose for the first time after 13 weeks of declines. Carriers cut blank sailings and announced higher rates from 19 October. However, more ships are returning to the Suez route, and that adds capacity. As a result, Drewry expects Europe rates to hold steady rather than climb.
The transpacific market looks very different. Strong US import demand and blank sailings keep Shanghai to Los Angeles near its 2026 high. In fact, that rate is roughly 3.6 times its level a year ago. In addition, tension around the Strait of Hormuz keeps fuel and insurance costs high on every route.
Our forecast for freight before Chinese New Year 2027
Every week, we compare the rates on our own Ningbo shipments with the Drewry index. From that, we estimate what a container is likely to cost on the lanes our buyers use most. The table below shows rounded estimates for ocean freight per 40ft container, by month of departure. The expected price comes first, followed by the likely range.
| Lane (40ft container) | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (via Vancouver) | ~$10,700 ($8,500–$13,700) | ~$10,000 ($7,600–$13,700) | ~$9,600 ($6,800–$14,000) |
| UK and North Europe | ~$3,900 ($3,200–$5,100) | ~$3,600 ($2,700–$4,900) | ~$3,700 ($2,600–$5,400) |
| Mediterranean and Black Sea | ~$6,000 ($4,500–$7,800) | ~$5,500 ($3,900–$7,600) | ~$5,700 ($3,700–$8,300) |
Keep these points in mind when you read the numbers:
- A 20ft container usually costs about 65–80% of the 40ft price on the same lane.
- The figures cover ocean freight only. Local charges, customs clearance, duties and delivery are extra.
- These are estimates, not quotes. Our past estimates have typically missed actual rates by 10–20%, so plan with the range, not only the midpoint.
- Rates change every week, so always confirm a live quote before you book.
Why Canada lanes cost far more than Europe right now
The gap is large. At the moment, a 40ft container to Vancouver costs almost three times as much as one to the UK. Two things drive this.
First, Canadian west coast rates follow the transpacific market, which is close to its 2026 peak. Second, our own Canada shipments have consistently cost more than the Shanghai to Los Angeles index. In other words, the headline index understates what Canadian importers actually pay.
Europe tells the opposite story. Ships returning to the Suez route add capacity, so rates have room to ease into December. After that, a small lift is likely in January, when importers rush cargo out before the holiday.
So what does this mean for your freight before Chinese New Year 2027? For Canada, booking November and December space early is safer than waiting for a drop. For the UK and Europe, there is less reason to rush the booking itself. Still, the factory deadlines below apply to every lane.
What these rates mean for your cost per unit
A container price only matters once you divide it across your goods. A 40ft high cube container holds roughly 60–65 cubic metres (CBM) of cargo once it is packed well. Using our November estimates, ocean freight works out at roughly:
- UK and North Europe: about $60–65 per CBM
- Mediterranean and Black Sea: about $90–100 per CBM
- Canada via Vancouver: about $165–180 per CBM
For example, imagine a carton of 0.1 CBM holding 50 small items. To the UK, freight adds only about 13 cents per item. To Canada, the same carton adds about 35 cents per item. On low-price goods from Yiwu, that difference can decide whether a product is still worth importing.
So check your margins on each lane before you place orders. If Canada freight squeezes a product too much, choose lighter or more compact items, or improve how cartons are packed.
Key dates for freight before Chinese New Year 2027
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, 6 February. The official public holiday is expected to run from 5 to 11 February. However, the slowdown starts much earlier. Based on how factories and Yiwu Market handled the 2026 holiday closure, expect this rough timeline:
- Early to mid-December 2026: confirm orders and production slots with your factories.
- Mid-January 2027: many factories stop accepting new orders, about three to four weeks before the holiday.
- Late January 2027: factories stop production, and most Yiwu Market shops close about a week before the holiday.
- 5–11 February 2027: official national holiday.
- Mid to late February 2027: Yiwu Market reopens gradually, and normal trading usually returns about two weeks after the holiday.
- March 2027: most factories are back to full production.
These dates are estimates based on past years. The official market notice usually comes out in December, and each supplier sets its own dates. For more detail on how the shutdown affects production, read our guide to the Chinese New Year factory shutdown.
When to visit Yiwu Market if your goods must ship before the holiday
Work backwards from the sailing date. After you place an order, the factory needs time to produce it. Then the goods need inspection, consolidation and loading. Finally, the container needs a vessel that leaves before the port rush.
For that reason, the best window for a buying trip is November to early December 2026. That timing gives you the best chance to secure freight before Chinese New Year 2027. During this period:
- suppliers are fully staffed, and showrooms are fully stocked;
- factories still have production slots before the shutdown;
- you can book container space before the January rush.
If you arrive in January, you can still buy, but treat it as ordering for after the holiday. In that case, your goods will most likely ship in March. Also, avoid travelling in the last days before the holiday, when trains and flights are at their busiest. Our guide on how to reach Yiwu helps you plan the trip itself.
How to book freight and keep costs down
- Book space early. Ask for a quote as soon as orders are confirmed. When ships are full before the holiday, cargo can be rolled to a later sailing.
- Combine suppliers in one container. Container consolidation in Yiwu fills the box and lowers the cost per unit.
- Choose LCL or FCL carefully. Small orders can go LCL, but consolidation warehouses also close early. Compare both in our LCL vs FCL guide.
- Split urgent items. Send small, urgent goods by air and the rest by sea. See how split shipments from Yiwu work.
- Budget for the upper range. This matters most for Canada, where rates swing the most.
- Prepare documents early. Missing paperwork in January can mean missing the last sailing before the holiday.
Checklist before your Yiwu buying trip
A little preparation at home saves days in the market. Before you fly, work through this short list:
- Decide your target sailing date, and count back to your order deadline.
- Get a current freight quote for your lane, and budget at the upper end of the range.
- Ask your agent to confirm which suppliers stay open until late January.
- Book hotels and trains early, because prices rise as the holiday approaches.
- Prepare product specifications, so factories can confirm production times on the spot.
With these steps done, you can spend your time in Yiwu choosing products instead of chasing dates. Even better, freight before Chinese New Year 2027 becomes a planned cost rather than a last-minute surprise.
What could change this outlook
Several factors could move freight rates before Chinese New Year 2027 away from our forecast:
- Suez Canal routing: more ships returning to Suez add Asia–Europe capacity and push rates down.
- US trade policy: new tariffs or deadlines can trigger booking rushes on the transpacific, which also affects Canada.
- Strait of Hormuz: ongoing tension keeps fuel and insurance costs high on all routes.
- Pre-holiday demand: a January rush is normal and can lift rates for a few weeks.
We update our rate tracking every week. Therefore, ask us for the latest numbers before you commit to a booking.
Plan early and ship with confidence
In short, freight before Chinese New Year 2027 is manageable if you start early. Visit Yiwu in November or early December, confirm orders by mid-December, and book container space as soon as production dates are clear. If you ship to Canada, move faster. If you ship to Europe, you have a little more flexibility, but the factory calendar will not wait. For a wider view of this year’s container prices, see our China shipping cost 2026 guide.
Planning to source products from Yiwu Market? Our professional Yiwu sourcing team helps international buyers with airport pickup, Yiwu market guidance, supplier negotiation, order tracking, product inspection, warehousing, container loading, China customs, and international shipping.
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