How air cargo shippers can prep for Lunar New Year

Logistics planning is always critical for air cargo shippers, but as Lunar New Year approaches, the stakes are even higher.

Given the holiday spurs production shutdowns in countries across Asia for several weeks, demand forecasting and rate planning is difficult, Matt Castle, VP of global forwarding at C.H. Robinson, told Supply Chain Dive. Plus, the impact of the holiday on freight activity varies from year to year.

This year’s celebration, for instance, is earlier than usual (roughly Jan. 29 to Feb. 4), although dates differ from country to country. In 2024, the holiday ran from Feb. 10 to Feb. 17, Joe Kronenberger, SVP of air freight product at Geodis, told Supply Chain Dive.

Although the Lunar New Year may last a week, its impact ext…