Road Freight Between China And Europe Has Grown
Over 3,700 trucks have completed transcontinental freight trips as trade between regions saw an 11% increase this year.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Transportation
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More than 3,700 trucks have successfully transported goods between China and Europe using the TIR system. This logistical expansion accompanies an 11% growth in trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe during the first half of 2026.
Why it matters
Road freight has emerged as a crucial alternative for supply chains facing geopolitical or environmental disruptions in traditional trade corridors. By using the TIR system, operators can move goods across more than 60 borders under a unified customs guarantee.
Trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe reached $161.5 billion in 2025, supported by 11 dedicated logistics service sites in China. Operators now utilize routes spanning over 60 borders, with transit between China and Azerbaijan taking approximately 15 days.
The players
TIR System
This is an international customs transit system that allows goods to move through member countries under a single guarantee to reduce delays at borders.
The details
The TIR system facilitates international transit by allowing vehicles to cross borders under a single customs guarantee, significantly streamlining complex logistics. China has further incentivized this route by establishing priority green lanes for TIR-compliant vehicles at key border crossings.
Timeline
Trade between China and Eastern Europe reached $161.5 billion in 2025.
Trade volume increased by 11% during the first half of 2026.
A logistics conference took place in Beijing on 22 September 2026.
Market Landscape
This increase in transcontinental road freight marks a departure from reliance on traditional sea and rail lanes, which have faced recent geopolitical disruptions. By scaling the use of the TIR Convention, logistics operators are creating a more flexible and redundant supply chain infrastructure across Eurasia.
Increased freight capacity and diversified trade routes may help stabilize the cost of goods imported from China by reducing transit bottlenecks. Consumers can expect improved supply chain resilience, which often translates to more consistent product availability in regional markets.
The takeaway
The development of a robust land-based freight network serves as a strategic hedge against instability in traditional maritime and rail corridors. Standardizing customs procedures across the transit regions will be the primary factor determining if this growth continues to scale.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving logistical networks, visit the Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trans.
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