Recently, Shandong opened its first international road transport corridor directly to Georgia. On the opening day, two TIR vehicles loaded with clothing set off from Qingdao, Shandong. They exited through Khorgos Port, crossed Kazakhstan, traversed the Caspian Sea, passed through Azerbaijan and arrived in Georgia. The entire journey is expected to take 18 days.

　　This TIR international road transport route from the SCO Demonstration Zone to Georgia is the 7th TIR route opened by the SCO Demonstration Zone, further enhancing the multi-corridor resilience of Shandong's opening-up pattern.

Image source: SCO Demonstration Area

　　What is TIR?

　　TIR is a cross-border freight customs transit system established under the UN Convention on International Transport of Goods. Its core advantage lies in “one declaration, one guarantee and one vehicle direct to destination.”

　　Vehicles holding a TIR certificate can complete customs procedures at the place of departure and destination, and do not need to undergo repeated unpacking and inspection in transit countries, thereby significantly shortening cross-border transit time. Taking the Georgia route as an example, traditional sea freight takes 30 to 45 days, while TIR can cut the time to about 18 days.

Image source: CCTV Morning News

　　Against the backdrop of fluctuating sea freight prices and rising geopolitical uncertainty, TIR provides an alternative option with controllable capacity, fewer nodes and faster turnover. It is particularly suitable for fresh agricultural products, high-value small parcels and the shipment rhythm of cross-border e-commerce, which features multiple batches and small-to-medium volumes.