China Production Update: Two Weeks

April 3, 2024 by Peter Rogoz

I’ve recently had some work done on my home in preparation for my wife and I’s first born child. If you’ve ever hired contractors to do any significant work on your home or business, you’ll understand the empty feeling of hopeless anticipation as the contractor declares that work will be done in two weeks. Just two short weeks. It’s two weeks on day one of the project and two weeks on week six of the project. Just two more weeks, in endless perpetuity.

That sums up perfectly what the Chinese production cycle has been like in China this year. As we reported earlier in the year, a huge number of Chinese fireworks factories have recently shifted their production to focus on the Chinese domestic fireworks market. After 3 years of harsh Zero Covid policies, Chinese citizens were ready to celebrate going outside by blowing stuff up, and they were willing to spend a ton of cash for the privilege. 

Chinese New Year in 2023 and 2024 saw unprecedented fireworks sales in China. To meet that demand, fireworks factories pivoted away, and in some cases, completely abandoned USA production, forcing a squeeze on our production cycle. The autumn and winter months that would typically be full of production for the USA market were instead preoccupied with making fireworks for China. We waited in anticipation as the Chinese New Year came and went to learn about what fireworks were going to be shipping as soon as factories re-opened. 

But much like a bricklayer can’t work in below freezing temperatures because his mortar won’t dry correctly, fireworks factories couldn’t work because the weeks following Chinese New Year were too cold. We were told to wait two weeks. Just two short weeks. 

The weeks came and went and we anxiously awaited the news that fireworks factories were back in full swing. But much like a project gets stalled as the general contractor waits for permits to be approved, the factories remained closed while the Chinese Congress held meetings in March. We were told to wait two weeks. Just two short weeks. 

Again we waited. But just like a painter that can’t finish the job because rain is creating too much humidity and his paint won’t dry right between coats, we were told factories were struggling to open because heavy rains were creating problems. We were told to wait two weeks. Just two short weeks. 

But just like an electrician that gets pulled away from the job due to a family emergency, we were told factories were closed because the president was making a surprise visit to the province. Wait two weeks. Just two short weeks. 

After seven weeks of two weeks, we’ve now learned that since January, fireworks factories have only been working on USA production for, you guessed it, two weeks. 

Luckily, this isn’t our first remodel and we work with the best in the business, so we were able to squeeze in deliveries when others were stalled. We’ve got plenty of your favorite fireworks in stock now with lots of goodies coming soon. Due to the unusual production schedule, we are anticipating many ’76 Pro Line products to be arriving in late May/early June, but they WILL be arriving. 

Please check our most recent arrival schedule here and as always, if you see something you like, do not wait to order it! Chances are, it won’t be around anymore in two weeks.