Chinese New Year 2027: Why PCB Customers Should Plan Ahead Now
As Chinese New Year approaches, PCB supply chains across Asia will once again face significant disruptions. For customers relying on overseas PCB production, planning early is more important than ever—especially as material shortages, capacity constraints, and continued demand across the electronics industry are already putting pressure on the supply chain.
While the official public holiday window is February 5–12, individual PCB manufacturers may establish their own shutdown and production schedules. Some factories may close earlier, while production may take additional time to return to normal following the holiday.
Why Chinese New Year Planning Starts Now
Chinese New Year creates a predictable annual disruption
to PCB manufacturing, but the challenges facing the supply chain make early planning particularly important.
Many PCB manufacturers close for an extended period around the holiday, with employees traveling home to celebrate with family. Production capacity becomes increasingly limited in the weeks leading up to the holiday as factories work to complete existing orders and prepare for the shutdown. Production can also take time to return to normal after the holiday.
At the same time, material availability continues to be a major concern. Shortages and allocation challenges involving key PCB materials can make it more difficult to secure production capacity on short notice. Waiting until the beginning of 2027 to place an order could mean facing longer lead times, limited factory options, or difficulty securing the materials needed for your boards.
For these reasons, MCL recommends that customers begin planning their Chinese New Year requirements now and target placing orders by the end of September 2026 whenever possible.
Don’t Wait Until January
Waiting until the weeks immediately before Chinese New Year can create unnecessary risk.
By that point, factories may already have their production schedules heavily committed, materials may be allocated to other customers, and available shipping windows may be limited. If your PCB requirements overlap the Chinese New Year shutdown, even a standard production lead time can be extended significantly.
Ordering by the end of September gives MCL and our manufacturing partners more time to:
- Secure necessary materials before shortages become more restrictive
- Reserve production capacity ahead of the holiday rush
- Identify alternative materials or manufacturing options when necessary
- Build inventory to cover anticipated demand during the disruption
- Develop contingency plans for critical or time-sensitive projects
The earlier we know what you need, the more options we have to help you get it.
Material Availability Makes Early Planning Even More Important
The PCB industry is already experiencing material shortages, allocation challenges, and increased demand for manufacturing capacity.
As manufacturers manage limited supplies of certain materials, production slots can become increasingly difficult to secure. This means that customers who wait until the beginning of 2027 may find themselves competing for both materials and manufacturing capacity at the same time Chinese New Year is approaching.
Planning ahead allows MCL to work with our manufacturing partners to evaluate availability and identify the best path forward for your specific requirements.
Whether that means securing materials earlier, adjusting production timing, exploring alternate sourcing options, or building additional inventory, the earlier the planning starts, the more opportunities we have to mitigate potential disruptions.
How MCL Can Help
MCL works closely with our manufacturing partners to monitor material availability, production capacity, factory schedules, and changing market conditions.
Our team can help you evaluate upcoming PCB requirements and develop a plan around the Chinese New Year period. Depending on your needs, that may include:
- Planning orders earlier to secure production capacity
- Evaluating material availability before production is scheduled
- Identifying alternate materials or manufacturing options
- Adjusting order timing to avoid the most significant holiday disruptions
- Building inventory ahead of the holiday when appropriate
- Exploring domestic or alternative sourcing options for time-sensitive requirements
- Planning larger-volume builds in advance to help secure materials and production capacity
For customers with larger or recurring PCB requirements, MCL also offers programs designed to help secure supply and manage inventory needs over time. By planning volume requirements in advance, we can better position materials and production capacity before the Chinese New Year disruption.
Our goal is to help you stay ahead of potential disruptions rather than reacting to them after they occur.
The Bottom Line: Plan Now, Not Later
Chinese New Year happens every year, but the supply chain conditions surrounding it are constantly changing. With material shortages, constrained capacity, and strong demand already affecting the PCB industry, waiting until the last minute can significantly reduce your options.
If you know you’ll need PCBs during or shortly after the Chinese New Year period, now is the time to start planning.
Our recommendation: Aim to place your orders by the end of September 2026.
Getting ahead of the holiday gives MCL and our manufacturing partners more time to work with you on material availability, production scheduling, inventory planning, and potential alternatives before capacity becomes more difficult to secure.
Don’t wait for the Chinese New Year rush to begin. Contact MCL today to discuss your upcoming PCB requirements and develop a plan for 2027.