MODES
China to Iran: road, sea, or rail
Three ways to move cargo from China to Iran. This page compares them; the rate and time for any mode are quoted on the day.
- Road under TIR: currently 21–23 days from the Wuqia crossing to the Tehran West Customs bonded warehouse, with the domestic leg to Wuqia typically within 7 days and counted separately
- Sea via Bandar Abbas: 35–55 days to the container yard, then a separate road leg to Tehran
- Rail: no scheduled service into Iran; the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is not open
- For lithium, out-of-gauge and chemical cargo, road is usually the only workable mode
Road
A TIR trailer leaves a China hub and exits at Wuqia. One carnet and a customs seal from origin mean fewer unsealings and transloads across the transit countries, not none: a direct truck transloads once, at Bukhara. Counted from the Wuqia crossing, a direct truck currently runs 21–23 days to Tehran West Customs and 18–21 days to Mashhad; the domestic leg from the hub to Wuqia is typically within 7 days and is counted separately. Takes Class 9 batteries, out-of-gauge machinery and chemicals with an MSDS.
Sea
To Bandar Abbas in 35–55 days, then a separate road leg to Tehran, with multiple port handlings. Lowest cost per CBM for large, non-urgent, non-hazardous loads.
Rail
Alashankou rail serves other destinations; there is no scheduled rail into Iran. The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is under construction and not open, so it is not a timeline to plan against.
Choosing
Urgent, mid-volume, or hazardous / handling-sensitive cargo goes by road. Very large, non-urgent, non-hazardous cargo goes by sea. Rail is not a planning option for Iran today.
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
How much faster is road than sea?
Compare it leg by leg. By road a direct truck currently runs 21–23 days from the Wuqia crossing to Tehran Customs, with the domestic leg to Wuqia typically within 7 days on top and counted separately. By sea it is 35–55 days to Bandar Abbas, before the inland leg to Tehran. Road is still the faster mode, and the margin is widest against the slow end of the sea range.
Can I ship lithium batteries by sea?
In principle, but IMDG hazmat slots are scarce and expensive. Road under TIR and ADR is the usual route for battery cargo.
Is there a train to Iran?
Not on a scheduled service. Alashankou rail goes elsewhere and the CKU railway is not open. Iran cargo moves by road.
Which mode is cheapest?
Sea, per CBM, for large non-urgent loads. Road wins once time, handling and cargo type are counted in.
Related: The CKU railway is not open yet · Overland skips Hormuz — what it means for insurance · Transit time from Wuqia, leg by leg · TIR trucking from Wuqia to Tehran Customs