Missing Songkran on your production plan is the #1 rookie mistake when importing from Thailand. Unlike China, Thai factories don't all shut for the same 15 days — but a handful of national holidays and industry-specific downtimes will bite you if you schedule blind.
Songkran — the Big One
13-17 April 2026 (Mon-Fri, official public holiday 13-15, most factories 11-19). Thai New Year. Assembly, injection molding, textile, and food factories all shut. Ports open but skeleton crew — book cutoffs 5 days early.
Chinese New Year Ripple
17-19 Feb 2026. Not a Thai holiday, but Thai-Chinese-owned factories in Samut Sakhon and Bangpoo (electronics, textiles) often shut 3-5 days. Also disrupts Chinese material inputs (steel, PCB, fabric).
Buddhist Holidays
Makha Bucha (1 Mar 2026 — alcohol sales banned), Visakha Bucha (31 May 2026), Asalha Bucha & Buddhist Lent start (29-30 Jul 2026). Single-day closures but expect QC and inspection agencies to be closed.
Royal & Civic Holidays
HM King's Coronation Day (4 May), HM Queen Suthida's Birthday (3 Jun), HM King's Birthday (28 Jul), HM Queen Mother's Birthday & Mother's Day (12 Aug), Passing of King Rama IX (13 Oct), King Chulalongkorn Day (23 Oct), King Rama IX Birthday & Father's Day (5 Dec), Constitution Day (10 Dec), New Year (31 Dec - 1 Jan).
How to Plan Around Shutdowns
Rule of thumb: freeze POs 6 weeks before Songkran, ship out 2 weeks before. For CNY-sensitive supply chains, buffer material inputs 4 weeks ahead. Confirm each factory's actual holiday roster in writing — small OEMs often extend Songkran to 10 days.
Inspection & Freight Impact
SGS, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek Thailand offices close on all public holidays. Laem Chabang and Bangkok Port operate 24/7 but customs brokers work reduced hours. Air freight capacity tightens 2 weeks before Songkran.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thailand affected by Chinese New Year?
Yes, partially. Thai-Chinese owned factories close 2-5 days. More importantly, Chinese raw material and component inputs pause for 2-3 weeks, hitting Thai assembly plants downstream.
Can I get production during Songkran?
Some large FDI factories (auto, electronics) run skeleton shifts, but expect 40-70% capacity. Small/medium OEMs shut fully.
Do ports really stay open during Songkran?
Yes — Laem Chabang and Bangkok Port operate. But trucking companies drop to ~30% capacity and warehouses close, so inland moves stall.
Best month to schedule QC inspections?
Feb (before CNY dip), Jun, Sep, Nov. Avoid Apr, late Jul, mid-Oct, and mid-Dec.
Related Guides
- Import from Thailand: Complete 2026 Guide
- Incoterms 2020 Explained
- Payment Terms LC vs TT
- Customs Broker Selection
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