TRANSIT
Central Asia transit: Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan, then Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Between the China border and Iran the truck crosses three transit countries. On the Wuqia line: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan. On the Khorgos line: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan. It runs under a TIR carnet, which keeps per-border deposits, unsealings and transloads to a minimum — not to zero.
- Wuqia line: Kyrgyzstan (0.4% invoice-value transit tax), then Uzbekistan, then Turkmenistan, then Sarakhs
- Khorgos line: Kazakhstan (Almaty–Shymkent), then Uzbekistan, then Turkmenistan, then Sarakhs — no 0.4% tax
- Under TIR: no escrow bond at each border; the carnet minimises unsealings, it does not remove transloading
- Direct truck: one transload, at Bukhara. Transshipment truck: Osh and again Bukhara
- Two drivers rotate; the Central Asia leg is roughly 7 days
- The routes do not run through Tajikistan
The Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan leg
On the Wuqia line the truck enters Kyrgyzstan, which levies a 0.4% tax on the cargo-invoice value — a tax, not freight, excluded from the quotation and paid by the customer. On the Khorgos line it enters Kazakhstan through Almaty and Shymkent, with no such tax. Winter road conditions are the main variable on both.
Uzbekistan and Bukhara
Both lines then pass through Uzbekistan. Bukhara is the transload point: a direct truck is transloaded once, here. A transshipment truck has already been transloaded at Osh, back in Kyrgyzstan, and is transloaded again at Bukhara — sometimes once more at the Iranian border. It costs less and takes longer.
The Turkmenistan leg
From Farap to Mary and on to the Iranian border. Transit control is strict and convoy scheduling follows conditions on the day. Then the truck reaches Sarakhs.
Why TIR matters here
The carnet removes the security deposit at each border and keeps unsealings and transloads to a minimum. It does not mean the cargo is never transloaded — a direct truck is still transloaded once, at Bukhara. See how TIR works.
Tajikistan
The routes do not pass through Tajikistan. Specific cases are quoted separately.
No published rates. To get a quote, send three things: the origin hub; the destination customs (Tehran West Customs / Aprin / Mashhad); and the cargo data — HS code, gross weight in kg, volume in CBM.
FAQ
Which countries does the truck cross?
The Wuqia line crosses Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan; the Khorgos line crosses Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Both enter Iran at Sarakhs.
Is the cargo transloaded in transit?
Yes, but as few times as possible. A direct truck is transloaded once, at Bukhara in Uzbekistan; a transshipment truck at Osh in Kyrgyzstan and again at Bukhara. The TIR carnet keeps unsealings and transloads to a minimum, it does not remove them.
Does it go through Tajikistan?
No. The routes do not run through Tajikistan.
What does TIR remove on this leg?
The per-border security escrow deposit. It reduces unsealings and inspections; it does not remove transloading.
Related: Uzbekistan and the Bukhara transload · Xinjiang exit crossings: Khorgos and Irkeshtam · The CKU railway is not open yet · China to Iran road freight overview