Christmas Economy Ignites Early: Chinese Candle Factories Face Order Surge, Production Lines Run Day and Night

With just over a month until Christmas, Li Wei, the manager of a candle factory in Yiwu, Zhejiang, has been working 16-hour days for three consecutive weeks. “I’ve never seen such an early surge in orders,” he said, pointing to the piles of packaging boxes in the warehouse. “In previous years, orders were just picking up at this time, but now we’ve already received prepaid orders for January next year.”

Li Wei’s factory is just one snapshot of China’s Christmas supply chain. As the global holiday season approaches, candle manufacturing hubs across China are experiencing a sharp increase in orders. Production lines are operating at full capacity, with workers on rotating shifts to meet the growing demand for Christmas candles in European and American markets.

Soaring Orders, Production Lines at Full Capacity

In Dongguan, Guangdong, Zhang Lin, the head of a candle company specializing in the European market, stated that since the third quarter of this year, orders for Christmas-themed candles have increased by 40% year-on-year. “Traditional cylindrical candles, shaped candles (like Christmas trees, snowflakes, and reindeer), and scented candles are all selling well, especially those with holiday scents like cinnamon, pine, and gingerbread.”

Data from a integrated manufacturing and trading company in Ningbo shows that from September to November this year, candle export orders grew by 35% compared to the same period last year, with over 70% being Christmas-related products. The company’s cross-border e-commerce manager shared, “Searches for ‘Christmas candles’ in our online store started rising steadily in August and have surged 200% month-on-month in the past month.”

Multiple Factors Driving Demand Growth

Industry analysts point out that this year’s surge in candle orders is driven by several factors:

First, the revival of holiday traditions in Europe and the United States. In the post-pandemic era, family gatherings and holiday celebrations have fully resumed, and decorative candles, as a key element in creating a festive atmosphere, have seen a natural increase in demand.

Second, “emotional consumption” has become a new trend. Candles with warm scents and soft glows are seen as products that relieve stress and enhance quality of life, with this “self-pleasure consumption” particularly prominent during the holiday season.

Additionally, social media has fueled the spread of candle culture. On TikTok and Instagram, the hashtag #ChristmasCandles has garnered over 10 billion views, with candles often featured as the centerpiece in influencers’ “Christmas ambiance” setups.

Industry Upgrades in Response to Market Changes

Facing the surge in orders, Chinese candle manufacturers are also quietly upgrading. Many factories are no longer content with mere contract manufacturing but are strengthening independent research and development to launch innovative products.

“Our newly developed ‘gradient color Christmas candles’ and ‘low-temperature safety candles’ have been particularly popular this year,” Li Wei explained. “The former changes color from red to gold when lit, while the latter uses a special formula with a lower flame temperature, making it less likely to cause immediate burns if accidentally touched.”

Environmental sustainability has also become a new focus in the industry. Several factories have introduced plant-based candles made from soy wax or coconut wax as alternatives to traditional Paraffin Wax. “European customers are increasingly demanding eco-friendly products. The proportion of orders for biodegradable candles made from renewable materials has risen from 15% last year to 30% now,” Zhang Lin added.

Logistics Challenges and a Sweet Burden

The surge in orders has also brought a “sweet burden.” Fluctuating shipping costs and tight cabin space are the main challenges manufacturers face. Many companies are opting to ship early or use land routes like the China-Europe Railway Express to ensure timely delivery.

“We started producing Christmas candles for major European and American retailers in August,” Zhang Lin said. “The earliest batch was shipped by sea in mid-September, and the recent batch is going by rail. Although the cost is higher, it ensures the products are on shelves before Black Friday.”

Worker recruitment has also become a challenge. Despite wages being 20%–30% higher than usual, many factories still face short-term labor shortages. Some companies are alleviating the pressure through automation, introducing mechanical filling lines and intelligent packaging equipment to improve production efficiency.

The Global Supply Chain Behind the Candle

Behind the humble candle lies a global supply chain. The raw materials for Chinese candle factories come from around the world: fragrances from France, dyes from Germany, and specialty waxes from Malaysia. The finished products then travel through cross-border logistics networks to reach Christmas tables in European and American homes.

“Our clients include major retailers like Walmart and Target, and we also sell directly to consumers through Amazon,” Li Wei said. “This year, the farthest order came from Iceland, where a customer ordered 200 custom Christmas candles with the family name printed on them.”

As Christmas approaches, candle factories across China are brightly lit, with production lines running continuously. The air is filled with the scents of cinnamon, sweet orange, and fir—these festive products will be carefully packaged, shipped across oceans, and light up cozy Christmas evenings for people around the world.

“Every time I think about the candles we produce possibly flickering on a Christmas dinner table in a German home or emitting fragrance on a windowsill in a New York apartment, I feel this job is particularly meaningful,” Li Wei said, glancing at the rows of candles being packed. The mingling scents of wax and pine needles in the air brought an early touch of the holiday season.

Zhongya candle factory
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