The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations in Asia, bringing family reunions, vibrant festivities, and, for the logistics industry, an intense period of heightened activity. This annual holiday marks a temporary pause in manufacturing and trade across China and Hong Kong, sending ripple effects across global supply chains.
But as data from Global Logistics System (HK) Co., Ltd. (GLS) shows, the impact on air cargo movements is evolving, with digitalisation playing an increasingly important role in mitigating seasonal disruptions.
The months leading up to the Lunar New Year typically witness a surge in air cargo activity as businesses rush to move goods before factories and logistics operations slow down for the holidays.
“In the two months leading up to Lunar New Year (December 2024 and January 2025), the number of shipments exported from Hong Kong through our portal, EzyCargo, rose by 18% and 15%, respectively. In China, shipments surged by 12% compared to the previous month,” said Kitty Wong, Marketing Manager at GLS.
This surge is not a new phenomenon, but 2025 saw a particularly notable increase. Compared to the same period in 2024, total shipments grew by almost 25%, while shipments out of China rose by an even higher 40%.
While the surge in shipments is evident before the holiday, many expect a sharp decline in air cargo capacity as businesses close for the celebrations. However, Wong notes that the impact of factory closures was less significant this year:
“From our numbers, we see that while there was an expected downward trend in capacity closer to the holidays, the overall impact on global air cargo movements was less severe than in previous years.”
One of the major shifts in air cargo is the increasing reliance on technology to manage fluctuations in demand. GLS, for example, launched EzyFHL, a feature designed to help users manage complex house data in air cargo, particularly in e-commerce shipments.
“When freight forwarding agents and airlines handle thousands of entries in a single shipment, EzyFHL allows them to submit data in just a few clicks,” Wong explains.
This kind of automation reduces processing time from 30 minutes to just five, increasing efficiency and ensuring accurate documentation even during peak seasons.
For carriers, digital platforms also enhance visibility across the supply chain, helping airlines respond to disruptions more quickly. As Wong points out: “Carriers benefit from accurate data and digital tracking tools, reducing shipment delays caused by human errors in peak periods.”
Will Lunar New Year’s impact weaken over time?
With continued advancements in technology, some industry experts predict that the seasonal disruptions caused by Lunar New Year could gradually diminish. Automation, robotics, AI, and blockchain-based logistics solutions are streamlining global supply chains, allowing for more efficient inventory management and production planning.
“The Lunar New Year’s impact on global logistics will be minimised in the long run as technology continues to transform supply chains,” Wong predicts.
