TIR operations are taking off from borders and inland cities across China. From small consumer goods and ice cream to industrial cargo, TIR is making door-to-door, long-distance deliveries easier than ever.
Transport under TIR continues its rapid rise in China. Between January 2024 and April 2025, the number of licensed TIR operators increased by over 500%, while the number of TIR vehicles surged by nearly 800%.
With Chinese operators actively piloting and scaling up new door-to-door TIR routes, here are three recent transport operations that show what¡¯s now possible under the system.
1039 market procurement
China¡¯s first door-to-door 1039 market procurement transport under TIR was recently completed, opening a new channel for commodity goods with a single customs declaration value below USD 150,000.
The TIR vehicle departed from Ruian, Zhejiang Province, following customs clearance under the 1039 market procurement trade mode. It set off for Europe after exiting China via the Manzhouli Port in Inner Mongolia.
Under the 1039 market procurement trade mode, market-procured goods benefit from simplified customs procedures. TIR adds additional advantages, including door-to-door delivery. This significantly reduces transit processes, cutting time and costs.
Ice cream
Building on existing TIR routes, the Shenyang TIR Logistics Hub has expanded its network with a new door-to-door route to Central Asia.
Two TIR trucks loaded with ice cream from Liaoning Province completed customs clearance and TIR procedures at the Shenyang TIR Logistics Hub, exiting via the Bakhtu Port in Xinjiang. The shipment traversed Kazakhstan and arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in eight days.
Bulky goods
In another example of door-to-door delivery efficiency, two TIR trucks transported end caps for oil tanks from the Zhengzhou TIR Logistics Hub. They exited China via the Manzhouli Port before reaching Mogilev, Belarus, in 15 days, as opposed to 20-30 days without TIR.
Previously, such cargo had to be transhipped at borders. TIR¡¯s door-to-door advantage eliminates lengthy reloading and complex handling challenges at ports.
New TIR cities
Several cities have recently launched TIR operations and opened new routes.
Goods such as sports equipment, apparel, footwear and small consumer goods are now being exported under TIR from four Zhejiang Province cities: Wenzhou, Yiwu, Jiaxing and Hangzhou, as well as from Chongqing (southwest China), Binzhou (eastern China), Harbin (northeast China) and Hohhot (northern China).
TIR is now active at 43 locations across China, including both border ports and inland cities.