A transport vehicle with a TIR signboard full of imported goods arrives at the Qingdao Dagang Customs Inspection Platform on Sept 4. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]

On Sept 4, a transport vehicle with a TIR signboard full of imported goods arrived at the Qingdao Dagang Customs Inspection Platform at Qingdao Port, a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group (SPG), marking the completion of the first shipment of TIR imported goods in Shandong province. 

The TIR vehicle was loaded with 21 metric tons of blackcurrant raisins imported from Uzbekistan by Qingdao Wolong Food Co Ltd, which departed from Uzbekistan and arrived in Shandong via Kazakhstan.

Thanks to the opening of TIR direct transportation route between Qingdao Port and Uzbekistan, the vehicle was soon given a green light to proceed to the food company after a brief verification procedure at the Dagang Customs Inspection Platform.

TIR is a global customs clearance system in the field of international cross-border cargo transportation. The system enables goods to move under customs control across international borders without the payment of duties and taxes that would normally be required for imports and exports. 

As there is no need to unpack the goods for inspection and companies do not need to pay transit guarantees to customs along the way, TIR greatly reduces shipping time and costs and makes road transport more compatible with sea, air, and rail transport.

The introduction of TIR direct transportation between Qingdao Port and Central Asian markets is expected to help China build a port economy that integrates with surrounding areas and promotes regional industrial upgrading, while providing Qingdao and its surrounding areas with new impetus to further integrate into the Belt and Road network.