“15–30 days” is a number, not a plan. A shipment is a chain, and a chain is only as fast as its slowest link. Here is the week-by-week breakdown from PO to port, and the five delays that quietly push dates back.
The full timeline, week by week
A typical order runs: sampling (confirm spec) → material prep → production → QC / inspection → booking → ocean. 大致节奏：打样 7–10 天，生产 15–30 天，QC 加订舱再 5–7 天。我们会把完整排期摊在你的 PO 上，不让你猜。
Sampling stage: what eats the most time
Sampling is where most schedules slip before production even starts. Every revision round-trips a sample. Lock the spec (material, color, function) before you count down, and the clock starts clean.
Peak season adjustments (Canton Fair, CNY)
Two windows stretch everything: the run-up to the Canton Fair and the weeks around Chinese New Year, when factories close for holidays and backlog builds. 提前说一句：8 到 10 月（广交会前后）通常要多等 1–2 周；春节前后整个产业带停 2–3 周。你一询价我就把这两个窗口标出来。 Plan these into your calendar, not around them.
Five things that delay shipments
真要拖期，九成是缺料或者 QC 返工。我们会预留缓冲，日期有风险提前告诉你——绝不闷声延期。 The usual five: material shortage, unconfirmed spec changes, QC rework, delayed deposit, and last-minute booking peaks. Four of five are avoidable with an early, locked PO.
How to build buffer into your PO
Add 2–3 weeks of buffer to any date you promise your own customers. Book ocean early rather than after production. And get the inspection booked before the line finishes, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is production after deposit? 大致节奏：打样 7–10 天，生产 15–30 天，QC 加订舱再 5–7 天。我们会把完整排期摊在你的 PO 上，不让你猜。 Ocean adds another 25–40 days depending on destination.
What delays shipments most? 真要拖期，九成是缺料或者 QC 返工。我们会预留缓冲，日期有风险提前告诉你——绝不闷声延期。
Need the exact numbers for your project?
The figures above are industry baselines. For a real quote — loading count for your specific model, MOQ, lead time and certifications for your market — contact our sourcing team with your target specs.