China is currently Brazil’s main trading partner. Between January and June of this year alone, international trade increased by 37.7% in exports and 25.9% in growth in imports.

We know that cultural differences between Brazil and China often affect international negotiations and logistics, making it necessary for us to adapt to Chinese culture to ensure the success of a good deal.

At a time when we are witnessing a scenario never seen before in international trade, with the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic, the closing of ports and airports, the lack of equipment, cargo congestion and the increase in freight costs, it is I need to be aware of another factor that can affect bilateral trade between Brazil and China, which are the Chinese holidays.

China highly values ​​its culture, as it is intrinsic to the values ​​of the country’s population, which is proud of its history. So, be on the lookout for the upcoming Chinese holidays, which will take place in September and October.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival commemorating the end of the autumn harvests, being always celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. As it is one of the most important Chinese holidays in the country, the Chinese will be off during the days of the festival, which will be between the 19th and 21st of September.

This is the second most important festival in China, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. In addition to China, countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also celebrate this festival, but on a smaller scale.

National Day

Following the Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be the celebration of the Chinese National Day, also known as Golden Week. This holiday is in honor of the day the People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949.

This holiday is a period used a lot for tourism, which promotes the second largest movement of people within the country (second only to Chinese New Year).

As it is a holiday with celebrations that span 7 days, this extended holiday impacts international trade in many ways, as factories will be closed from October 1st to October 7th.

Impacts of Holidays on Shipments from China

With the factories closed from September 19th to 21st and between October 1st and 7th, even after their reopening, the production pace will be slower, as suppliers need to meet all accumulated demands.

In addition, these holidays have a direct impact on shipments scheduled for Black Friday and Christmas in Brazil, where there is already a considerable increase in shipments from this country.

So far, our agents have informed us that in all other countries except China, factories and shipments will be operating normally during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In China, however, despite the fact that factories and offices are closed during this holiday, most agents will be on duty taking care of cargo that is ready for shipment.

Our agents have not yet notified us of office operations during the National Day holiday, but we are monitoring the situation closely to keep everyone up to date.

In this way, we advise all our customers to schedule their shipments as soon as possible in order to avoid the delays that will occur during these Chinese holidays.

Always count on us to find the best solutions for your shipments!