Shenyang launches first TIR cross-border route to Uzbekistan

Shenyang launches first TIR cross-border route to Uzbekistan signifying increasing regional connectivity through trade and economic activities.

On Monday, two refrigerated trucks loaded with 20 tonnes of locally-produced ice cream left an international road transport assembly center in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province in northeast China, carrying TIR signs.

The shipment will leave China through the Bakti port in Xinjiang, travel across Kazakhstan, and reach Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, within approximately 8 to 10 days.

This delivery marks the official opening of Shenyang’s first TIR cross-border road transport route linking China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, further extending the center’s existing transport network that previously connected China and Russia.

The TIR system, short for Transports Internationaux Routiers, or International Road Transport, is a global customs transit system designed to expedite transport operations and reduce border-crossing costs. China joined the TIR system in 2016.

“This direct route from Shenyang to Tashkent ensures a seamless delivery process with no need for transshipment,” explained Han Qingfeng, the shipping company’s general manager, adding that they plan to operate monthly shipments.

Since receiving certification from the International Road Transport Union in late 2024, the Shenyang assembly center has handled 50 TIR shipments worth over 30 million yuan (about 4.16 million U.S. dollars), exporting goods like machinery, auto parts, office supplies, and food.