When does Tet 2027 disrupt plywood shipments from Vietnam?

Tet falls on 6 February 2027, and the plywood chain in Vietnam stops around 1 February when the holiday begins. Getting back to full speed takes another 30 to 40 days, so the disruption runs roughly from 1 February to early or mid-March. An order that misses loading before the break usually waits until March.

When should Q1 formwork orders be confirmed?

November is the month to confirm them. Specs settled then leave time to press, load and ship before the holiday starts, and the order also fixes the price before freight and panel costs climb further. Booking container space together with the order is the simplest way to hold the freight rate.

What does a 40ft container from Hai Phong cost right now?

Vinawood is planning on about $8,000 to the US West Coast, $10,170 to the US East Coast, $3,630 to North Europe and $4,150 to the Med for a 40ft from Hai Phong. Drewry's World Container Index reached a 15-week high of $4,585 per 40ft on 22 October, and carriers have filed further increases for November. Forwarders had not published November quotes when the brief went out.

How do cancelled Asia to Europe sailings affect European buyers?

Carriers cancelled eight Asia to Europe sailings for the week after the brief, up from two the week before. When a voyage drops off the schedule, the cargo booked last is what gets bumped to a later ship. European importers who book space when the order is confirmed and allow a week or two of slack in site dates have the best chance of a clean run before Tet.

How do exchange rates change the landed cost of Vietnamese plywood?

Vietnamese plywood is quoted in US dollars, so the buyer's own currency sets the landed cost. At the ECB rate of $1.1193 per euro on 23 October, $10,000 of goods cost a euro buyer about €8,930, against roughly €8,600 seven weeks earlier. The Canadian dollar went the other way, to C$1.3993 per US dollar, which saves a Canadian importer about C$280 on the same order. A forward contract taken out with the order is the usual way to fix the rate for Q1 payments.

Are plywood prices rising in the US and Europe?

Yes, in both markets. The US producer price index for plywood from the Bureau of Labor Statistics rose 1.8% in September, its fourth monthly rise in a row, and sits about 5% above May. In Europe, the Finnish birch mill Koskisen said its plywood prices crept up in the third quarter, so a Q1 import price fixed in November protects margins if the climb carries on into spring.

★FeaturedOctober 26, 2026·3 min read

Lock Q1 Formwork Prices in November and Load Before Tet

Tet 2027 stops Vietnam's plywood chain from about 1 February. Why Q1 formwork confirmed in November locks both price and a pre-Tet loading date, plus freight, currencies and panel prices.

▶Key Takeaways

Tet falls on 6 February 2027, and the plywood chain in Vietnam stops around 1 February, with about 30 to 45 days of disruption before it is fully back to speed. Q1 formwork confirmed in November loads before the break. Freight out of Asia is climbing, and we plan a 40ft from Hai Phong at about $8,000 to the US West Coast, $10,170 to the US East Coast, $3,630 to North Europe and $4,150 to the Med. The euro is about 4% weaker against the dollar than in early September, the Canadian dollar has firmed, and US plywood producer prices are up about 5% since May.

Lock Q1 Formwork Prices in November and Load Before Tet

Formwork needed on site in March has a hard date behind it this year. Vietnam celebrates Tet, the Lunar New Year, on 6 February 2027, and from our side of the supply chain the break lasts a lot longer than the holiday itself. Specs settled in November leave time to press, load and ship well before it starts. With freight and panel prices both moving up this autumn, an order confirmed now also fixes the cost before the market goes further.

The Tet calendar

The holiday starts about five days before Tet, so around 1 February the plywood chain in Vietnam stops. What we see every year is that getting back to full speed takes another 30 to 40 days. Log supply, veneer and glue return gradually, and mills, trucking and the port pick up step by step. Start to finish, the disruption runs about 30 to 45 days, roughly from 1 February to early or mid-March.

That matters for a March site. An order that misses loading before the holiday usually waits until the chain is back to speed in March. Q1 orders confirmed in November load before the break begins.

Freight rates

Container rates out of Asia are climbing again. Drewry's World Container Index hit a 15-week high of $4,585 per 40ft on 22 October, and every main lane rose on the week. Carriers have filed further increases for November, among them HMM's $3,000 per 40ft to the US and Canada from the 15th. Forwarders haven't published November quotes yet.

For a 40ft from Hai Phong, we're planning on about $8,000 to the US West Coast, $10,170 to the US East Coast, $3,630 to North Europe and $4,150 to the Med. Booking space together with the confirmed order is the simplest way to hold a rate near those levels.

Space and schedules to Europe

Carriers have cancelled eight Asia to Europe sailings next week, up from two. When a voyage comes off the schedule, the cargo booked last is what gets bumped to a later ship, and many ships are still running late. European importers who book space when the order is confirmed, and plan site dates with a week or two of slack, give themselves the best chance of a clean run through the pre-Tet weeks.

Currencies

Vietnamese plywood is quoted in US dollars, so the buyer's own currency decides the landed cost. The ECB reference rate was $1.1193 per euro on 23 October, about 4% weaker than in early September. At that rate, $10,000 of goods costs a euro buyer about €8,930, against roughly €8,600 seven weeks ago. The Canadian dollar has moved the other way. The Bank of Canada had it at C$1.3993 per US dollar on 23 October, down from C$1.4271 on the 9th, so a Canadian importer pays about C$280 less on that $10,000. For Q1 payments, a forward contract taken out with the order is the usual way to fix that rate, capping the downside for euro buyers and holding the recent gain for Canadian ones.

Panel prices

Plywood is getting dearer in the main buying markets. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price index for plywood has risen four months running, up 1.8% in September and about 5% since May. In Europe, the Finnish birch mill Koskisen said its plywood prices crept up in the third quarter (Fordaq, 14 October). A Q1 import price fixed in November protects margins if that climb carries on into spring.

Q1 orders

None of this is unusual for the run-up to Tet, but this year the timing and the cost argue for the same thing. Buyers who confirm Q1 formwork in November lock both the price and a pre-Tet loading date. Our guide to container loading for plywood helps size the order by sheet count per 40ft.

About Vinawood

Vinawood is a Vietnamese plywood manufacturer established in 1992. We ship about 5,000 containers a year to 55+ export countries, and every formwork and film-faced panel goes through a 12-step production process and 100% individual sheet inspection. Certifications include ISO 9001, FSC-COC, PEFC, EN 13986 CE marking and UKCA, the wood is plantation-grown, and an EUDR evidence pack is available on request for European orders. For Q1 loads, request a quote.