Chinese New Year 2027 falls on February 6 (Saturday), with New Year’s Eve on February 5. For overseas buyers in the phone accessory business, that date minus two to three months is the window in which sourcing decisions need to be made. Below is how the schedule typically works, so you can work backwards to your own order date.
1. When factories and freight slow down
Based on past years, the pattern is fairly consistent:
- One to two weeks before the holiday: factories begin to wind down and service equipment; new orders are generally accepted only if they can be finished before the break;
- During the holiday: most factories close for 10–15 days and inter-provincial trucking largely stops;
- One to two weeks after: workers return gradually and lines ramp up, so capacity is below normal at first;
- Ocean freight needs even more lead time: space and trucking tighten from three to four weeks out, and rates rise.
Exact cut-off dates change every year — confirm them with your forwarder. The ranges above are only for planning.
2. A schedule worked backwards from the holiday
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| October – early November | Confirm models, specifications and cut-out drawings (including the iPhone 18 series and new Android flagships); request samples and test fit |
| Mid to late November | Place the production order; lock in lead time and packaging |
| Before mid-December | Bulk production finished, inspected and shipped |
| Early January | Last window for air freight top-ups (expensive; best for small urgent lots) |
| After mid-January | Ocean freight will not arrive before the holiday; only air freight is realistic |
3. Why film for new models should be decided earlier
Q4 through early Q1 is when flagship launches cluster. Screen protection is tooled per model, and privacy film adds the lamination of the viewing-angle control layer, which needs sampling and adjustment. The less time a factory has, the fewer process options remain open.
- Cut-outs and curvature: the earlier the drawings are confirmed, the fewer tool and die changes are needed;
- Lamination: full-adhesive, edge-adhesive, silk-screen and magnetic constructions each need different tuning, and magnetic or silk-screen builds typically take longer to sample;
- Packaging: retail boxes with your logo need their own layout and print slot.
4. How we quote lead time
kmore produces to order rather than holding stock, which means:
- Lead time starts once specifications and quantity are confirmed — the faster samples are approved, the sooner bulk is scheduled;
- Peak season (October to January) is tight; we recommend booking a slot four to six weeks ahead;
- Repeat orders with unchanged specifications and packaging move through faster.
5. Three things you can do now
- List the models you plan to push next year with rough volumes;
- If new tooling or a process change is needed, send drawings and target pricing for evaluation;
- Settle acceptance criteria — privacy angle, transmittance, thickness — at the sample stage to avoid rework later.
To check production slots or request samples, send an inquiry through our contact page with the models and quantities, and we will reply with a specific schedule.
