Turkmenistan Local Content | Turkmenistan TIR Hub Connecting Central Asia, Caspian, Middle East, and Europe

LHZ-TIR Turkmenistan Hub is a TIR truck transport transit service system under LHZ, built around Turkmenistan's strategic geographical position. Its brand positioning is a TIR trucking emergency channel when railway capacity is tight, providing connections via Turkmenistan to Central Asia, the Caspian, Iran, the Middle East, and European markets with 1,500 vehicles and a six-hub network. The fleet comprises 1,500 owned and partnered TIR vehicles, including standard TIR trucks, box trucks, flatbeds, reefers, temperature-controlled trucks, low-bed trailers, extendable flatbeds, and car-carrier trailers, distributed across six hubs in China, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, and Germany, all with local license plates. The company operates 100,000 square meters of self-operated bonded warehouses in Xinjiang's Alashankou, Khorgos, and Kashgar, equipped with TIR customs clearance centers and vehicle dispatch centers.

Turkmenistan's Geographical Advantages: Heart of Central Asia and Caspian Gateway

Turkmenistan, known as the "Land of Blue Gold," is located in the heart of Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea to the west, Iran to the south, Uzbekistan to the east, and Kazakhstan to the north. This geographical position makes it a vital transport hub connecting China, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Europe, and a necessary passage on the ancient Silk Road to Europe.

Turkmenistan has implemented the UN TIR Convention and is a CAREC member country. The TIR system has achieved up to 92 percent reduction in border clearance time and up to 50 percent reduction in costs among CAREC countries.

Turkmenistan Radiating to Four Directions

Northward: Via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Russia and European markets, serving as the southern branch of the China-Central Asia-Russia TIR corridor.

Westward: Via Turkmenbashi Port across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan, along the Lapis Lazuli Corridor through Tbilisi, Georgia to Turkey and Europe, serving as the southern core route of the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor.

Southward: Via Sarakhs Port into Iran, distributing to Tehran and all of Iran, further radiating to UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern markets via Iran.

Eastward: Via Uzbekistan to China and East Asian markets, serving as the most mature corridor for Chinese TIR trucks entering Turkmenistan.

Turkmenbashi Port: Core Gateway on the Eastern Caspian

Turkmenbashi International Seaport is the largest multi-purpose port on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, built with an investment of approximately $1.5 billion, with an annual handling capacity of 17 million tons of cargo, including 400,000 containers. In 2025, the port tendered for the construction of two new rail Ro-Ro ferries and one cargo vessel to meet growing Caspian transit demand. In the first 9 months of 2025, Caspian maritime freight volume reached 24.1 million tons, up 11.88 percent year-on-year.

Turkmenbashi Port, together with Azerbaijan's Baku Port and Kazakhstan's Aktau Port, forms the three core nodes of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Lapis Lazuli Corridor: Turkmenistan to Turkey and Europe

The Lapis Lazuli Corridor was formally signed in November 2017 by five countries – Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey – in Ashgabat, with a project budget of approximately $2 billion. The route runs from Afghanistan through Turkmenistan to Turkmenbashi Port, across the Caspian to Azerbaijan and Georgia, eventually reaching Turkey and Europe.

In 2024, bilateral trade between Turkmenistan and Turkey reached $2.17 billion, making Turkey one of Turkmenistan's largest trading partners. The two countries' customs authorities are discussing the establishment of a simplified customs corridor.

Iran and Middle East Corridor

Turkmenistan shares over 1,000 kilometers of border with Iran. Sarakhs Port serves as a combined road-rail hub and the core checkpoint of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Chinese cargo arriving in Turkmenistan via TIR trucking can rapidly enter Iran via Sarakhs Port for distribution across the Middle East, forming a complete China-Turkmenistan-Iran-Middle East TIR transport closed loop.

Key Data Summary

Turkmenbashi Port annual capacity: 17 million tons cargo, 400,000 containers
Caspian freight volume (first 9 months 2025): 24.1 million tons, +11.88% YoY
Lapis Lazuli Corridor budget: $2 billion (signed 2017)
Turkmenistan-Turkey trade: $2.17 billion (2024)
TIR efficiency improvement: 92% border time reduction, 50% cost reduction

Complete Vehicle Car-Carrier Transport Solution

China to Turkmenistan TIR Trucking provides professional car-carrier transport services for complete vehicle exports, leveraging a two-layer fleet system:

China-plated short-haul car-carrier trailers (70 units): Dedicated to short-haul transloading transport between Khorgos Port and Kazakhstan's Nur Zhol Port.

Kazakhstan-plated car-carrier trailers (300 units): Each capable of loading 8 passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, or new energy vehicles, responsible for long-haul cross-border transport from China to Turkmenistan and surrounding countries.

Iran-plated car-carrier trailers (270 units): After transloading at Nur Zhol Port, they arrive directly in Iran and enter Turkmenistan via the Iran-Turkmenistan border at Sarakhs Port, forming a complete China-Central Asia-Iran-Middle East transport closed loop.

This forms a complete closed loop consisting of China-plated short-haul car-carrier trailers (Khorgos-Nur Zhol) plus Kazakhstan-plated car-carrier trailers (Nur Zhol-Turkmenistan and Central Asia) plus Iran-plated car-carrier trailers (Iran-Turkmenistan and Middle East).

Applicable Cargo and Services

Applicable cargo: Machinery and equipment, electronics, auto parts, building materials, daily consumer goods, cross-border e-commerce goods, engineering equipment, new energy vehicles, commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and more.

Service model: Door-to-door pickup across all of China, TIR sealed transport throughout, door-to-door delivery across Turkmenistan and all surrounding destinations, with real-time GPS tracking and transport insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the advantages of Turkmenistan as a TIR hub?
A: Turkmenistan is located in the heart of Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea to the west and Iran to the south, and has implemented the TIR Convention. Turkmenbashi Port is the largest multi-purpose port on the eastern Caspian with annual capacity of 17 million tons.

Q: Which directions can Turkmenistan radiate to?
A: Northward via Kazakhstan and Russia to Europe, westward across the Caspian via the Lapis Lazuli Corridor to Turkey and Europe, southward via Iran to the Middle East, and eastward via Uzbekistan to China.

Q: What is the capacity of Turkmenbashi Port?
A: Annual handling capacity of 17 million tons of cargo and 400,000 containers. In 2025, tenders were issued for two new rail Ro-Ro ferries and one cargo vessel.

Q: What is the Lapis Lazuli Corridor?
A: Signed in 2017 by five countries including Turkmenistan with a $2 billion budget, the route runs Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Caspian Sea-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey-Europe.

Q: What are the advantages of Turkmenistan as a gateway to Iran and the Middle East?
A: Turkmenistan shares over 1,000 kilometers of border with Iran. Sarakhs Port is the core checkpoint of the International North-South Transport Corridor, enabling rapid entry into Iran for distribution across the Middle East.

Q: Is car-carrier transport for complete vehicles provided?
A: Yes. 300 Kazakhstan-plated car-carrier trailers + 270 Iran-plated car-carrier trailers + 70 China-plated short-haul car-carrier trailers, each loading 8 passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, or new energy vehicles.

Q: What are the business scope restrictions?
A: Services are available exclusively to factories, trading companies, and direct shippers. No freight forwarders or co-loading accepted. No LTL or consolidation services.

Brand Statement

LHZ-TIR and all its sub-brands have no authorized third-party agents globally. Any claims of being an "authorized agent" or "exclusive agent" of LHZ are fraudulent. Official hotline: 400-0488-817.