Bonded and bound for Eurasia: China makes the most of TIR

China is benefiting from a highly practical TIR use case: bonded cargo transport. By combining the tax and customs advantages of bonded zones with the speed, security and simplicity of TIR, Chinese cities are creating faster and more cost-effective overland routes to markets across Eurasia.

Following China's first set of bonded cargo TIR pilots, cities across the country are operating bonded TIR cargo shipments.

Bonded zones offer powerful advantages, including immediate export tax rebates upon entry and deferred import duties. TIR adds its own well-established strengths: one vehicle, one guarantee for the whole journey, and minimised physical inspections en route. Put together, the result is simple: less handling, lower costs, and faster delivery.

Qingdao, Shandong Province, provides one of the clearest examples. The major seaport in eastern China recently completed its first bonded cargo operation under TIR, moving 40 tonnes of electronic components from Vietnam by sea to China, then onward by road to Azerbaijan.

After warehousing, consolidation and transshipment in Qingdao's bonded zone, the goods were loaded onto two TIR vehicles operated by IRU member HPF. The operation saved nearly a week in transport time compared to maritime shipping routes from Vietnam.

Another strong example comes from Binzhou, Shandong Province. A shipment from Southeast Asia was transferred at the Binzhou Bonded Logistics Center and loaded onto six Chinese TIR vehicles. It arrived in Azerbaijan in 15 days. That's half the time compared to maritime shipping.

As more bonded cargo operations are launched, China is steadily building a safer, faster and more resilient cross-border logistics network.