With China TIR operations surging 90% over the past year, IRU members from China and across Eurasia convened in Geneva to explore new routes, expand logistics hubs, and unlock untapped transit potential.
Ahead of the IRU statutory meetings last week, members from China and Eurasia came together for a closed-door roundtable on enhancing transport corridors with the TIR transit system.
TIR continues to gain momentum in China. Since 2023, the number of Chinese TIR operators and vehicles has grown tenfold. This rapid growth supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative by fostering transport connectivity and deeper economic integration across the region.
IRU members from China – CRTA, GSTIKC, CEVA Logistics, TRU Logistics, SPSI, HYE and HPF – discussed their initial experiences using TIR for full-truckload and less-than-truckload e-commerce, dangerous goods, cold-chain, and oversized cargo operations along China–EU corridors.
TIR logistics hub representatives outlined the benefits brought by the consolidation of essential transit services. There are currently six TIR logistics hubs across China (Kashgar, Urumqi, Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Chengdu and Linyi). By providing integrated services such as customs declarations, warehousing and cargo handling, the hubs reduce processing times to as little as two hours.
IRU Director of TIR and Transit System Tatiana Rey-Bellet, who moderated the panel, said, “Through close collaboration between IRU and partners from the public and private sectors, the TIR system connects China with over 30 Eurasian countries, offering secure transport options that are over 80% faster and 50% cheaper than other transport options and routes.”
“Nearly all of Eurasia has signed or modernised its bilateral road transport agreements with China, creating the enabling legal environment and favourable conditions needed to transport goods securely, quickly and cost-effectively,” she added.
IRU members from Eurasia – ASMAP, BAMAP, GIRCA, AIRCUZ, ABBAT, THADA, NARTAM, AsMAP UA – shared the experiences of their operators working in the Chinese market. They proposed ways to boost supply chain collaboration and optimise long-distance door-to-door deliveries with a single transit document: the TIR carnet.
Participants unanimously recognised the vast, untapped potential for cross-border road transit in the region but highlighted inefficiencies that still cause bottlenecks.
To address these challenges, they identified concrete steps to develop a joint roadmap for improving transport connectivity and trade. Key areas of collaboration include:
- Raising awareness about TIR among trade communities
- Promoting TIR-EPD for advance risk management
- Introducing TIR Green Lanes at borders
- Expanding TIR logistics hubs
All participants welcomed this new format as a productive coordination platform. They proposed holding such meetings regularly to share knowledge and seize emerging opportunities.eur
About TIR
The TIR system streamlines border procedures, reducing administrative burdens for both customs and transport and logistics companies. By cutting border waiting times significantly, it lowers operational costs.
TIR operators can move goods from one or multiple customs offices to several destinations – crossing as many countries as necessary – with just one TIR carnet. As a rule, vehicles remain sealed throughout the entire TIR transport. Goods are inspected only at departure and destination points. The TIR carnet serves as the international transit declaration and a single guarantee covering customs duties and taxes for the entire journey.
Using harmonised systems and data exchange tools, such as TIR-EPD to send advance cargo information, means that operators only need to submit their declaration data once for the entire transit movement. Every TIR operation – from start to finish – is monitored in real time.
