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MEXCOR GROUP · EU
MEXCOR GROUP · Helper

Helper for trade with Asia and the EU

World clock, holidays and working days in the countries you trade with, plus verified news on customs, taxes and regulations. We track them for you.

Local time

What time is it at your partners

Current time in Bratislava and in the countries you trade with. Business hours are indicative.

SlovakiaHome

Bratislava

--:--

 

same time

Business hours 08:30–15:30

 

China

Beijing / Shanghai

--:--

 

vs. Bratislava

Business hours 09:00–18:00

 

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

--:--

 

vs. Bratislava

Business hours 09:00–18:00

 

Vietnam

Hanoi

--:--

 

vs. Bratislava

Business hours 08:00–17:00

 

India

Delhi

--:--

 

vs. Bratislava

Business hours 09:30–18:00

 

Türkiye

Istanbul

--:--

 

vs. Bratislava

Business hours 09:00–18:00

 

United States

New York

--:--

 

vs. Bratislava

Business hours 09:00–17:00

 

Business hours overlap

The strip shows 24 hours of Central European time. Blue is MEXCOR's business hours, green is the selected country's business hours and the darker part is the overlap.

Public holiday · Make-up working day

Holidays and working days

Public holidays, make-up working days and long holiday periods according to official notices. Check whether your partner is working before you order or ship.

Next holiday · China

New Year's Day (provisional)

Fri 1 January 2027

in 66 days

Local time

—

Asia/Shanghai

Typical business hours

09:00–18:00

The State Council publishes the holiday and make-up working day schedule each November for the following year. 2027 will be added once published.

Official source: 国务院办公厅关于2026年部分节假日安排的通知

January 2026

  • Thu 1 January – Sat 3 JanuaryNew Year's Day Long holidayPublic holiday
  • Sun 4 JanuaryWorking SundayMake-up working day

February 2026

  • Sat 14 FebruaryWorking SaturdayMake-up working day
  • Sun 15 February – Mon 23 FebruarySpring Festival (Chinese New Year) Long holidayPublic holiday9 days; factories and carriers commonly pause for 2–4 weeks.
  • Sat 28 FebruaryWorking SaturdayMake-up working day

April 2026

  • Sat 4 April – Mon 6 AprilQingming Festival Long holidayPublic holiday

May 2026

  • Fri 1 May – Tue 5 MayLabour Day Long holidayPublic holiday
  • Sat 9 MayWorking SaturdayMake-up working day

June 2026

  • Fri 19 June – Sun 21 JuneDragon Boat Festival Long holidayPublic holiday

September 2026

  • Sun 20 SeptemberWorking SundayMake-up working day
  • Fri 25 September – Sun 27 SeptemberMid-Autumn Festival Long holidayPublic holiday

October 2026

  • Thu 1 October – Wed 7 OctoberNational Day (Golden Week) Long holidayPublic holiday7 days; plan orders and shipments before 25 Sept.
  • Sat 10 OctoberWorking SaturdayMake-up working day

January 2027

  • Fri 1 JanuaryNew Year's Day (provisional)Public holiday

February 2027

  • Sat 6 February – Fri 12 FebruarySpring Festival (Chinese New Year, provisional) Long holidayPublic holidayProvisional date; the exact break and make-up working days will be published by the State Council in November 2026.

April 2027

  • Mon 5 AprilQingming Festival (provisional)Public holidayProvisional date; the exact break and make-up working days will be published by the State Council in November 2026.

May 2027

  • Sat 1 May – Wed 5 MayLabour Day (provisional) Long holidayPublic holidayProvisional date; the exact break and make-up working days will be published by the State Council in November 2026.

June 2027

  • Wed 9 JuneDragon Boat Festival (provisional)Public holidayProvisional date; the exact break and make-up working days will be published by the State Council in November 2026.

September 2027

  • Wed 15 SeptemberMid-Autumn Festival (provisional)Public holidayProvisional date; the exact break and make-up working days will be published by the State Council in November 2026.

October 2027

  • Fri 1 October – Thu 7 OctoberNational Day, Golden Week (provisional) Long holidayPublic holidayProvisional date; the exact break and make-up working days will be published by the State Council in November 2026.

The data is for information only. Regional holidays (federal states, Indian states) are not included.

Customs and taxes · Regulations · Logistics

News that affects you

Every week we verify changes in customs, taxes, regulations and logistics between the EU and Asia. Each item lists its source and the date from which the change applies.

ChinaEuropean UnionLogistics

Asia–Europe ocean freight: second weekly rise, index at a 15-week high, carriers blank sailings

The Drewry World Container Index rose 2% to USD 4,585 per 40' container on 22 October 2026, its highest in 15 weeks; Shanghai–Rotterdam gained 3% to USD 3,632 and Shanghai–Genoa 5% to USD 4,152. Carriers are pulling capacity: eight blank sailings are announced on Asia–Europe for next week against two this week, and Drewry expects a further slight rise. The Gemini alliance (Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd) launches a new Asia–Mediterranean service via Suez in November, first sailing from Shanghai on 22 November. Book pre-Christmas and pre-Chinese New Year shipments as early as possible and allow a week for blank sailings.

Applies from
Published
Source: Drewry: World Container Index, 22 October 2026
ChinaEuropean UnionTrade and fairsRegulations

China: suspension of rare-earth and battery export controls ends on 10 November 2026, no extension published yet

With Announcement No. 70 of November 2025 China suspended its October 2025 export-control package (Announcements 55–58, 61 and 62: further rare earths, equipment and technology, lithium batteries and anode graphite, and above all the rule on foreign-made products containing Chinese rare earths above 0.1% of value) until 10 November 2026. The US side speaks of an extension to 10 January 2027, but as of 19 October MOFCOM had published no announcement changing the date; the April 2025 licensing regime for seven elements still applies. Importers of magnets, motors, electronics and batteries should confirm licence status with suppliers before 10 November and hold higher stocks for now.

Applies from
Published
Source: Technology.org: China's rare-earth export pause – what ends on 10 November
ChinaEuropean UnionLogistics

Asia–Europe ocean freight: rates rise after 13 weeks of declines, carriers announce FAK of USD 4,500–4,800 from 19 October

The Drewry World Container Index rose 3% to USD 4,485 per 40' container on 15 October 2026; Shanghai–Rotterdam gained 6% to USD 3,522 and Shanghai–Genoa 7% to USD 3,945. Carriers are trying to push FAK rates of USD 4,500–4,800 on Asia–Europe from 19 October, though with capacity growing it is unclear whether they will hold; most lines are returning via Suez in October, which shortens transit. If you are planning shipments ahead of Christmas and Chinese New Year, book space now and have your forwarder confirm the routing and transit time.

Applies from
Published
Source: Drewry: World Container Index, 15 October 2026
SlovakiaEuropean UnionCustoms and taxes

Slovak Financial Administration: €2 handling fee per item from 1 November 2026, also on consignments above €150

On 12 October 2026 the Slovak Financial Administration confirmed that for distance sales from outside the EU, customs will collect a non-refundable handling fee of €2 per customs-declaration item when goods are released for free circulation, regardless of value. Unlike the temporary €3 flat duty, it also applies to consignments above €150. The authority also warns that an amount labelled “duty” paid to the seller or platform does not necessarily settle the customs debt, which arises only when the declaration is accepted and is paid to the customs office. Importers and online shops should build the fee into prices and carrier contracts.

Applies from
Published
Source: Finančná správa SR: Pri online nákupoch z tretích krajín pribudne poplatok
European UnionCustoms and taxesRegulations

CBAM: certificate price for Q3 2026 set at €82.32 per tonne of CO₂, 9% above Q2

On 5 October 2026 the European Commission published the CBAM certificate price for Q3 2026: €82.32 per tonne of CO₂, up from €75.28 in Q2. The price is the weighted average of EU ETS auctions from 1 July to 30 September and applies to the embedded emissions of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity imported in that quarter. Certificates go on sale on the common central platform from February 2027, and the first declaration with surrender of certificates for 2026 is due by 30 September 2027; the Commission will publish the Q4 price on 4 January 2027. Importers should already factor the CBAM cost into this year's order calculations.

Applies from
Published
Source: European Commission: CBAM communication and news – Q3 2026 certificate price
European UnionCustoms and taxes

EU introduces a €2 handling fee on e‑commerce parcels from outside the EU

Regulation (EU) 2026/2108 and the Commission delegated act of 21 Sept 2026 introduce a €2 charge per item on goods sold online from outside the EU. Member states must collect it from 1 November 2026 at the latest; the importer (seller or marketplace) pays it, not the customer. National customs authorities are still clarifying the 'per item' vs 'per parcel' reading.

Applies from
Published
Source: VATupdate: EU sets €2 handling fee for small parcels

All news (14) →

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