Freight routes that were established in China and central Asia earlier this year are expected to boost trade growth and deliver benefits across the region.
As part of the initial trial, six trucks departed from western China’s inland city of Kashgar, crossing into Kyrgyzstan. Loaded with industrial components, auto parts and consumer goods, the first TIR trucks on the new route successfully arrived in Uzbekistan’s second-largest city, Samarkand, after approximately 1,100km.
CEVA Logistics Managing Director of Greater China, Joanna Zhu, said the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and China-Pakistan corridors should now see about 100 trucks a month use this route.
“CEVA will continue to optimise ground and rail product portfolios to open direct routes while strengthening intermodal capabilities,” said Zhu.
“We will develop more trade lanes from China to the west and enhance trade resilience along the corridor.”
Central Asia, CEVA said, is the main passage along the Han-Tang Silk Road.
“The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Ground Transportation Corridor is an example of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative,” the company said in a statement. “The opening of a southern passage has the capacity to change the entire transportation pattern of Western China.”
The southern corridor, according to CEVA, is expected to broaden the transportation range of the Eurasian Continental Bridge.
“As more logistics parks settle in Kashgar, export companies shipping goods such as auto parts, finished vehicles, and consumer and e-commerce goods will greatly benefit from the new route,” said CEVA.
“As the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan route becomes more established, CEVA anticipates making Kashgar a ground consolidation centre for Western China.”
In addition to the TIR solution, CEVA continues to explore and strengthen its multimodal solutions and open new direct routes as infrastructure in the region develops.
Current plans call for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway to be completed in 2025 and will make it the shortest freight route from China to the Middle East and Europe. The railway, according to CEVA, is expected to span more than 500km – more than 200km in China, 250km in Kyrgyzstan and the final 50km in Uzbekistan.
Yan Zhou, Chief Representative of East and Southeast Asia, IRU, said: “IRU and CEVA Logistics have established fruitful cooperation since TIR was implemented in China in 2018. From the historic first China-Europe round-trip TIR pilots to the recent new TIR route along the strategically important China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan corridor, IRU has been partnering with members to develop innovative trucking services under TIR. Together with our members and partners, IRU will continue to promote faster, safer and more efficient road connectivity between the East and the West.”
The transport and logistics company has also reported the launch of a TIR trucking route between China and Pakistan (Kashgar, China to Islamabad, Pakistan).
Five container trucks loaded with 79 tonnes of consumer goods departed from Kashgar, China, via the Hongqilafu Port. Covering a total distance of more than 1,200km the trucks successfully arrived at their destination of Islamabad, Pakistan four working days later.
The launch of the China-Pakistan TIR ground transportation route, according to CEVA, further enhances the diversity and safety of logistics corridors along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The new route also strengthens Kashgar’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative to continue the construction of the national logistics hub in Kashgar and the interconnection of Asia and Europe.
Kelvin Tang, Global Cross-Border & Multimodal Leader and Greater China Ground & Rail VP, CEVA Logistics, said: “The official launch of the first China-Pakistan TIR trucking route opens up a new chapter in diversifying logistics corridors along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and opens up new paths for trade cooperation. With the opening up of this new logistics corridor, CEVA can provide more flexible and convenient international logistics solutions for a wide range of customers, including those from the eCommerce industry.”
CEVA Logistics has been a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) since 2019.
Tang was recently awarded the IRU New Industry Shapers award in acknowledgment of his accomplishments in pioneering TIR transportation in China and promoting Asia-Europe trade.
In other news, DSV is taking delivery of a bulk order of Schmitz Cargobull trailers via TIP Group.
