Thailand Sourcing During Songkran & CNY: Lead Time Guide 2026
Missed holiday planning is the #1 avoidable reason POs from Thailand slip by 2–4 weeks. This is your 2026 holiday-aware lead time calculator.
The 2026 shutdown calendar
| Holiday | 2026 dates | Factory closure | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year (Chinese-owned factories) | 17–24 Feb | 5–10 days | Electronics, plastics, metal parts |
| Songkran (Thai New Year) | 13–16 Apr (official); most close 11–19 Apr | 7–9 days | All factories, banks, ports |
| Labor Day | 1 May | 1 day | Minor |
| Coronation Day | 4 May | 1 day | Minor |
| Visakha Bucha | 31 May | 1 day | Minor |
| King Vajiralongkorn's Birthday | 28 Jul | 1–2 days | Government offices, customs slow |
| Queen Mother's Birthday | 12 Aug | 1 day | Minor |
| Chulalongkorn Day | 23 Oct | 1 day | Minor |
| King Bhumibol Memorial | 13 Oct | 1 day | Minor |
| King's Birthday (Father's Day) | 5 Dec | 1–2 days | Minor |
| New Year | 30 Dec – 2 Jan | 3–4 days | Ports slow, forwarders limited |
Songkran is the big one
Unlike Chinese New Year (which only affects Chinese-owned factories in Thailand), Songkran shuts down virtually the entire country — factories, banks, customs offices, and ports run on skeleton crews from 11–19 April.
Practical implications:
- No wire transfers processed for 4–6 days
- No customs clearance for 4–5 days
- Laem Chabang / Bangkok port operate but at ~40 % capacity
- Trucking shortages 3 days before and 3 days after
Reorder timing rules
If your PO needs to ship before Songkran, the factory must receive the final PO + deposit no later than 55 days before ship-date (10 days finance/materials + 30 production + 10 QC + 5 export prep). For a 15 Apr ship, that means deposit paid by ~20 Feb.
If shipping after Songkran, add 10–14 days buffer to the standard lead time.
If you don't plan around it, the typical failure looks like:
- PO deposited 1 March → production scheduled to complete 5 April
- 5 April to 10 April: pre-shipment inspection, rework
- 11–19 April: factory closed (Songkran)
- 20–24 April: catch-up, container stuffing
- Delivery slips ~2 weeks vs promised
CNY — who actually closes in Thailand?
Chinese-owned or Chinese-managed Thai factories (about 25 % of exporters, concentrated in Chonburi, Rayong, Samut Prakan) close 5–10 days for CNY. Thai-owned factories typically stay open with reduced staff.
Ask your factory directly: "Is your factory closed during CNY? For how many days?"
Port and freight impacts
- Laem Chabang — remains open all holidays except New Year. Songkran productivity drops ~50 %.
- Suvarnabhumi (BKK air freight) — stays open, but ground handling slows.
- Bangkok Port (Klong Toey) — closes Songkran.
- Ocean freight rates typically spike +8–15 % for the 4 weeks pre-Songkran as buyers rush shipments out.
2026 planning template
Build your PO calendar backwards from these dates. Add a buffer week for any PO with ship-date within 14 days of a national holiday.
FAQ
Q: Can I still wire the deposit during Songkran? A: You can initiate it, but Thai banks won't credit until 17 April. Factories won't start production without confirmed funds.
Q: Do Thai factories work overtime pre-Songkran to catch up? A: Some do, at 25–50 % OT surcharge. Negotiate this into the PO if timing is critical.
Q: Is Songkran the same as Chinese New Year for buyers? A: Bigger and more universal. CNY affects a subset of factories; Songkran affects everything including banking and customs.
Q: When does the industry "restart" fully after Songkran? A: By ~20 April. Full pace by ~25 April.
Building a 2026 PO calendar around Thai holidays? TUSKO Consulting issues holiday-aware PO schedules and buffers for buyers running weekly/monthly Thai shipments. See our Sourcing Timeline Guide and Ocean Freight Guide.