Freight markets have seasons, just like retail and agriculture. At certain times of the year, demand for space rises, rates go up, equipment becomes scarce and transit times grow longer. At other times, ports, factories and offices slow down because of holidays. If you know when these periods fall, you can plan around them and avoid most of the stress.
The main peaks and slowdowns in the year
- Pre-Christmas peak (from late summer): retailers in Europe and North America stock up for the end-of-year season. For ocean freight from Asia, the peak usually starts in late summer and runs into autumn. Air freight often stays busy until December, with online sales events adding pressure in November. Space is tight and peak season surcharges are common.
- Chinese New Year (late January or February): factories in China and in other parts of Asia close for one to several weeks. Production slows down before the holiday and takes time to restart after it. Shippers rush to move goods before the closure, so space is tight in the weeks before, and supply is short in the weeks after.
- Ramadan and Eid: in Tunisia and across the region, working hours are often shorter during Ramadan, and the Eid holidays (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) close public offices, customs and many businesses for several days. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, because it follows the lunar calendar, so check the dates for each year.
- European summer holidays (August): many companies in Europe reduce activity or close for two to three weeks. Receivers may not be able to accept deliveries, and decisions can take longer. Some ports and warehouses work with fewer staff.
- Year-end holidays: late December and early January bring closures in Europe and elsewhere, just after the busiest period.
Other countries have their own holiday periods, such as Golden Week in China in early October. Ask your partners about the holidays in their country when you plan.
The olive oil harvest in Sfax
In the Sfax region, the olive harvest and pressing season runs roughly from November to February. This is when much of the year’s oil is produced and when exports increase. Demand rises for flexitanks, tank containers, dry containers, trucks and laboratory analyses. Exporters who book late can find that equipment is short at exactly the moment their oil is ready.
If you export olive oil, agree volumes and timing with your buyers early, and share your forecast with your forwarder before the harvest starts. Our article on exporting olive oil from Sfax covers the packaging and documents to plan.
What happens when you do not plan
- Rates rise, and surcharges are added at short notice.
- Cargo is “rolled” to a later vessel or flight because space is overbooked.
- Empty containers are hard to find at origin.
- Ports and terminals become congested, and goods wait longer at arrival.
- Holidays at origin or destination stop customs clearance or delivery, while demurrage and storage keep running.
How to plan ahead
- Build a shipping calendar. Mark the peak periods and the public holidays at origin, in transit and at destination for the year ahead.
- Book early. In peak periods, confirm space several weeks before the cargo is ready, not when it is ready.
- Share forecasts with your forwarder and suppliers. Even a rough forecast helps secure space and equipment.
- Keep buffer stock of your key products before known slowdowns, such as Chinese New Year or the August break.
- Add time to your plans. Allow extra days for transit, customs and delivery in busy periods.
- Stay flexible on mode and route. If sea freight is congested, part of the shipment could move by air or road. If a direct service is full, an alternative port or a transhipment route may work.
- Prepare documents in advance, so that a holiday does not catch a shipment waiting for paperwork.
Working with your forwarder
A forwarder sees the market across many customers and carriers, and can warn you when space is getting tight. Kyranis Logistics has almost 30 years of experience planning air, ocean, road and express freight from Tunisia. Tell us your plans for the coming months, and we will help you choose the timing, mode and route that keep your goods moving in the busy seasons.
Planning a shipment? Request a quote with every fee included upfront, or talk to our team in Tunisia: +216 70 295 255, info@kyranislogistics.com.
