Chinese New Year 2026 falls on Tuesday 17 February, and while it is a hugely important cultural celebration, it also creates one of the most significant annual disruptions in global electronics manufacturing. For anyone relying on PCB fabrication, components, or international logistics, understanding the impact of this period is essential for keeping production on schedule.
During the Chinese New Year holiday, factories in China shut down completely for at least two weeks.
In reality, the slowdown begins well before the official holiday as staff start to travel home, and production typically takes some time to ramp back up once operations resume. This extended stop-start period results in longer lead times, reduced capacity, and increased pressure across the wider supply chain.
areas directly affected by Chinese New Year shutdowns
Bare board supply from China
Most PCB fabrication plants close entirely during this period. Any boards required between late January and March must be planned well in advance to avoid delays.
UK PCB fabrication partners
Even manufacturers based in the UK, including our sister company Garner Osborne Circuits, experience increased demand in the lead-up to the shutdown. Many customers shift to UK suppliers to maintain continuity, which drives earlier and heavier workloads throughout January and March.
Components and logistics
Forwarders, distributors, and shipping partners typically face capacity constraints, slower transit times, and congestion both before and after the holiday. This can affect availability of specific components and delay inbound materials.
Safeguard your timescales
To safeguard production schedules and avoid unnecessary downtime, we strongly recommend reviewing any PCB builds that may fall within the February to March window.
The following guidance can help protect your timelines:
- For builds required in late January or early February: Place orders now to secure fabrication slots and ensure material availability.
- For builds required in late February or March: Place orders no later than early January to avoid the post-holiday bottleneck.
At Active-PCB Solutions, we are coordinating closely with both our overseas and UK partners to minimise the effect of these seasonal disruptions. However, early visibility from customers remains the single most effective way to reduce risk.
If you have upcoming projects that may be affected, please contact us now to secure your production slot.
Tel: (0)118 931 0292
Email: sales@active-pcb.com
Web: www.active-pcb.com
