The first TIR journey from China to Turkmenistan following the signing of a new road transport agreement has demonstrated the potential for simplified cross-border trade.
China’s road transport sector has reached a new milestone with the successful completion of an eight-day TIR journey from China to Turkmenistan.
The TIR truck, owned by IRU member ZZHY, began its 6,000km journey after completing export customs clearance and TIR procedures at the IRU-accredited TIR logistics hub in Zhengzhou. It left China via the Khorgos border crossing and passed through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan before arriving in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
This route is the first cross-border road freight transport under the new bilateral agreement between China and Turkmenistan in the field of road transport.
"The Zhengzhou-Ashgabat TIR route reduces transportation costs by 35% compared to air transport and shortens delivery time by 50% compared to rail transport," said the deputy general director of ZZHY.
He also added: "The TIR logistics hub in Zhengzhou supports TIR operators in developing new routes and improving efficiency. To date, 19 domestic and international TIR operators have cooperated with the hub, opening 18 routes from China to Central Asia and the Caucasus."
Turkmenistan's strategic geographical location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes the country a key player in the Middle Corridor. The opening of the new route is expected to create new opportunities for Chinese and international carriers.
About TIR Hubs
IRU-accredited TIR Logistics Hubs are a single window for TIR operators, customs authorities and supply chain stakeholders. They offer a full range of services: customs clearance, warehousing, cargo handling, route development and transport capacity selection.
The hubs play a key role in expanding TIR routes, facilitating international trade and strengthening global cooperation. By the end of 2024, they had attracted 40 companies from the transport, forwarding and logistics sectors.
The hubs, located in Kashgar, Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Chengdu and Linyi, currently serve more than 20 TIR routes to Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Caucasus.