Since the first TIR hub was launched in China in May 2024, several more have rapidly followed, bringing the total to six.
Two new IRU-accredited TIR logistics hubs have opened in the Chinese cities of Chengdu and Linyi.
The Chengdu TIR Logistics Hub is located in the Economic Development Zone of Longquanyi District in Sichuan, southwest China.
As a key economic gateway for the region, the hub will further integrate Chengdu into global road transport networks, reinforcing its role as an international logistics centre with efficient, streamlined TIR transport services.
IRU Director of TIR & Transit Tatiana Rey-Bellet said, “Chengdu has been expanding its international logistics corridors, laying a solid foundation for the development of cross-border trade and the establishment of the TIR hub.”
“With the support of the local government, transport authorities, customs and industry partners, the Chengdu TIR Logistics Hub can serve as a key platform for global industry cooperation, injecting new momentum into Sichuan’s international transport and trade industry,” she added.
The other TIR hub is located on the opposite side of the country, in Linyi, Shandong.
Linyi is one of China’s largest commodity distribution centres. The Linyi TIR Logistics Hub will further ease the import and export of goods, boosting connectivity with international markets and streamlining trade flows.
“I am delighted to witness the establishment of a TIR hub in Linyi,” said Tatiana Rey-Bellet. "The hub will attract more upstream and downstream enterprises within the supply chain, creating broader development opportunities.”
The other four hubs are in Kashgar, Urumqi, Zhengzhou and Shenyang.
About TIR logistics hubs
IRU-accredited TIR logistics hubs serve as one-stop shops for TIR transport companies, customs services and supply chain players, offering: customs clearance, warehousing, cargo handling, route development, and transport-capacity matching.
They are vital for expanding TIR routes, facilitating trade, and strengthening international collaboration. By the end of 2024, the hubs had attracted 40 companies from the transport, freight forwarding, and logistics sectors.
The hubs currently operate over 20 TIR routes to Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus.
What is TIR?
The United Nations-backed TIR system enables goods to be shipped from a country of origin to a country of destination in sealed load compartments that are controlled by customs via a multilateral, mutually recognised system.
TIR streamlines procedures at borders, easing the administrative burden for customs authorities and transport and logistics firms. It significantly reduces border waiting times, saving both time and costs.
Processing TIR at inland customs offices in China is especially beneficial for out of gauge goods, perishable food, dangerous goods, e-commerce, precision instruments and other goods with high requirements for transport safety and timeliness.