On January 15, international road transport routes officially carried vehicles loaded with cross-border e-commerce goods and bonded goods from multiple Chinese cities, including Wenzhou, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen, Yinchuan, Urumqi, and Kashgar. These vehicles departed toward Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Russia, and other countries, marking the launch of a more efficient direct international logistics channel.
All transports were conducted under the framework of the TIR Convention, enabling a streamlined model described as: “only one declaration, only one direct vehicle, only one container to the end.” This system significantly improves transport efficiency while reducing logistics and customs clearance costs.
International Road Transport Under the TIR Convention
The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) previously issued an official announcement on optimizing the implementation of the TIR Convention. The scope of application now officially includes:
- Cross-border e-commerce goods
- Bonded goods
The announcement clarified standardized declaration procedures, allowing enterprises to complete customs clearance through the exclusive module of the international trade “Single Window” platform. This policy upgrade improves facilitation levels and opens efficient logistics channels for cross-border trade.
Pilot Cities and Early Implementation
On the same day, customs authorities in multiple cities—including Hangzhou, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen, Yinchuan, and Urumqi—took the lead in launching pilot projects for international road transportation under the optimized TIR framework.
Customs departments supervised the first batches of bonded goods exported through international road transport, ensuring standardized operations and regulatory compliance.
Advantages of TIR-Based International Road Transport
According to the Port Supervision Department of the GACC, the TIR Convention relies on a globally recognized customs clearance system and standardized guarantee mechanism across 78 contracting countries.
This system provides several core advantages:
- No repeated inspections along the transport route
- No repeated unloading and reloading
- Unified guarantee mechanism
- Standardized customs supervision procedures
As a result, international road transport under TIR demonstrates clear advantages in:
- Transportation cost control
- Customs clearance efficiency
- Transit time reliability
- Logistics chain stability
The GACC continues to optimize supervision models and declaration processes, further enhancing cross-border freight efficiency and system coordination.
Rapid Growth of International Road Transport in China
China’s international road transport sector is experiencing rapid expansion:
- 272 licensed TIR enterprises currently operating nationwide
- Over 3,800 supervised international road transport operations in 2025
- Year-on-year growth rate: 110%
- More than 70 international road transport routes opened across China
These routes now cover countries in:
- Central Asia
- West Asia
- Europe
- Other Belt and Road regions
This expanding transport network significantly enhances the efficiency, stability, and scalability of international road freight and customs clearance systems.
Future Development Direction and Strategic Significance
Looking ahead, the GACC will continue to:
- Optimize regulatory service systems
- Enhance trade facilitation levels
- Expand application scenarios for international road transport
- Strengthen digital customs clearance infrastructure
These initiatives aim to establish a stable, efficient, and standardized customs clearance system for international road transport, serving China’s broader opening-up strategy and supporting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Source: CHINA CUSTOMS (Original Chinese report published on Jan 15, 2026)
Translation: SECUREPRO
