How your shipment moves
- Send us origin city, destination, goods description with HS code, volume and weight, ready date and Incoterm; the team quotes within one working day.
- We check the supplier, commercial invoice and packing list, and screen the goods and parties for sanctions and export controls.
- Our truck collects from the factory to our Guangzhou warehouse, where cartons are counted, photographed and consolidated.
- We agree the route with you: Middle Corridor via the Caspian, northern rail via Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, or TIR truck where available.
- China export declaration is filed, the container or trailer is sealed, and the rail waybill or CMR and TIR carnet are issued.
- The cargo crosses into Kazakhstan at Khorgos or Alashankou, where it is moved to broad-gauge wagons or Central Asian trucks.
- On the Middle Corridor it crosses the Caspian from Aktau or Kuryk to Baku (Alat), then runs through Georgia into Turkey at Kars or Sarp, or onward to EU ports.
- Before arrival in the EU the entry summary declaration (ENS) is filed in ICS2 with full shipper, consignee and 6-digit HS data.
- A licensed customs broker in Turkey or the EU files the import declaration; we prepare and send the documents and you pay duties and VAT.
- The goods are delivered to your warehouse and you receive the transport and customs documents.
Middle Corridor or northern route: choosing the rail corridor
Two rail corridors carry most China–Europe freight. The northern route runs from Alashankou or Khorgos through Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus and enters the EU at Brest–Małaszewicze in Poland, which handles an estimated 85–90% of China–Europe trains. It is the faster and higher-capacity option, but it transits Russia and Belarus, so carriers apply strict sanctions checks, and Poland's Belarus border closures in autumn 2025 caused backlogs.
The Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) avoids Russia. Containers run by rail across Kazakhstan to Aktau or Kuryk, cross the Caspian by ferry to Baku (Alat), continue through Azerbaijan and Georgia, and then either take the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway into Turkey (gauge change at Akhalkalaki) or go via the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi across the Black Sea to Constanța or Bulgaria. It is the natural route for Turkey and the Caucasus, and for EU buyers who avoid Russian transit.
| Corridor | Path | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern rail | China – Kazakhstan – Russia – Belarus – Poland | Faster, more capacity, many hubs (Xi'an, Chongqing, Chengdu, Yiwu) | Russia/Belarus sanctions checks; Brest–Małaszewicze congestion |
| Middle Corridor | China – Kazakhstan – Caspian – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey or Black Sea | Avoids Russia; direct rail link into Turkey | Caspian crossing is the bottleneck; times vary widely |
| TIR truck | China – Kazakhstan – Caspian ferry – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey – Balkans | Door to door, sealed through several borders | Ferry waits, permits and border queues |
Transit times
Our published typical range for China to Turkey and Europe is 15–25 days door to door. The figures below are typical station-to-station rail times in normal conditions; add origin trucking, customs and last-mile delivery. LCL rail adds about 2–4 days, and peak season (roughly September–January) and gauge-change congestion add more.
On the Middle Corridor, Kazakhstan Railways quoted 13–17 days China–Europe on the best block trains in September 2026, but reported times have ranged from 14 to 60 days because of limited Caspian vessels, falling water levels, weather and port waits. Unless your cargo is on a dedicated block train, allow about 18–30 days or more to Turkey.
| From eastern/central China to | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Małaszewicze (Poland), northern rail | 12–18 days |
| Duisburg / Hamburg (Germany), northern rail | 14–22 days |
| Istanbul (Turkey), Middle Corridor rail | 18–30+ days |
| EU by road (TIR truck) | 14–25 days |
| Istanbul by road via the Caspian | 18–30 days |
TIR trucks and the TIR carnet
Under the TIR Convention, goods travel in a customs-sealed truck or container from the customs office of departure to the office of destination, across several countries, without paying duties or opening the load at each border. The carrier holds a TIR carnet (or eTIR declaration) backed by an international guarantee managed by the IRU. China has run TIR operations since May 2018 at crossings including Horgos and Irkeshtam, and Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and all EU states are operational parties.
Golden Way is adding TIR truck services to Turkey and Europe; ask the team which lanes are available for your dates. Each carnet has a guarantee ceiling, so high-value cargo may need a different transit procedure. China is not a CMR party, so CMR liability (8.33 SDR per kg) applies from the first CMR country or by contract. Since April 2022, EU sanctions bar Russian and Belarusian road carriers from carrying goods within the EU.
Importing into Turkey: why Chinese goods pay more
Turkey has been in a Customs Union with the EU since 1996 for industrial goods and applies EU-aligned tariffs to third countries. On top of that, it charges additional customs duties (IGV) on goods from countries without an FTA, including China. The 2026 Import Regime, in force from 1 January 2026, reported additional duties of up to 48% on 4,344 product lines. Many anti-dumping measures target Chinese steel, tyres, textiles, footwear, ceramics, bicycles and more, and 172 products are under import surveillance with reference prices.
Clearing goods in the EU first does not avoid these charges. Chinese goods in EU free circulation can travel to Turkey with an A.TR certificate, but Turkey applies its trade defence by origin, so IGV and anti-dumping duties can still apply. Declarations are filed in BİLGE by a licensed broker, and many consumer products need a TAREKS conformity check first. Since 6 February 2026, the €30 simplified entry for e-commerce parcels has been abolished.
| Charge in Turkey | How it works |
|---|---|
| Customs duty (GV) | EU-aligned rate; many industrial goods 0–12% |
| Additional customs duty (IGV) | Applies to China; up to 48% on listed lines in 2026 |
| Anti-dumping duty | Product-specific, per kg, per unit or % |
| KDV (VAT) | 20% standard on customs value plus all duties |
| ÖTV | Cars, fuel, alcohol, tobacco and some durables |
Importing into the EU: EORI, ICS2, VAT and CBAM
China has no FTA or GSP access with the EU, so MFN duty from the TARIC code applies on the CIF value at the EU border, plus any anti-dumping duty. The importer needs an EORI number, and a broker files the H1 import declaration. Import VAT is charged at the rate of the member state of import, for example 19% in Germany, 21% in the Netherlands and 23% in Poland; several states allow postponed VAT accounting.
Since 1 September 2025, ICS2 requires an entry summary declaration for road and rail as well as sea and air: 2 hours before arrival by rail and 1 hour by road, with full party details, a 6-digit HS code and a precise description. Vague entries such as general cargo are rejected.
- The €150 duty exemption for low-value parcels ended on 1 July 2026; a flat €3 duty per item category now applies to parcels sent to EU consumers.
- CBAM is in its definitive period from 1 January 2026: importers of iron and steel, aluminium, cement or fertilisers above 50 tonnes a year need authorised CBAM declarant status.
- CE marking, GPSR (EU responsible person for consumer products) and REACH must be in place before shipping.
Route risk and compliance as of November 2026
As of November 2026, the road and rail route through Iran to Turkey is not offered as a standard service: Iran is in an active conflict and under UN, EU, UK and US sanctions, so any such request goes to our compliance team. The northern rail route stays usable for goods that are legal to import into the EU, but it transits Russia and Belarus. We screen every shipment, and we do not move goods that would breach sanctions or export controls.
Documents you need
- Commercial invoice — value, Incoterm and origin for customs in Turkey or the EU
- Packing list — cartons, weights and volumes for loading and inspection
- SMGS, CIM or CIM/SMGS rail waybill — rail transport contract; not a document of title
- CMR consignment note — road transport contract and receipt for truck shipments
- TIR carnet or transit declaration (EAEU transit, NCTS T1) — moves goods under customs seal across borders
- China export declaration — filed at origin before the cargo leaves
- Certificate of origin — non-preferential; needed for Turkish IGV and EU anti-dumping checks
- Conformity documents — CE Declaration of Conformity, test reports, TAREKS reference where required
- CBAM declarant number or A.TR — only for CBAM goods into the EU, or EU free-circulation goods moved to Turkey
Questions importers ask
How long does rail freight from China to Turkey take?
Typically 18–30 days or more to Istanbul on the Middle Corridor, because the Caspian ferry crossing is the bottleneck. Our typical door-to-door range for Turkey and Europe is 15–25 days, depending on route and border waits.
What is the Middle Corridor?
It is the Trans-Caspian rail route from China through Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea from Aktau or Kuryk to Baku, then through Azerbaijan and Georgia into Turkey or to the Black Sea. It avoids Russian transit but is slower and less predictable than the northern route.
Do I need a TIR carnet to truck goods from China to Europe?
The carrier arranges the TIR carnet, not the importer. It lets a sealed truck cross several borders without paying duties at each one, and China, Turkey and the EU all accept it.
Why does Turkey charge more duty on Chinese goods than the EU?
Turkey follows EU-aligned tariffs but adds its own additional customs duties (IGV) on goods from countries without an FTA, including China, plus many anti-dumping duties. In 2026 these reached up to 48% on thousands of product lines, so send us the HS code for a calculation.
Is the €150 EU duty-free limit still in place in 2026?
No. Since 1 July 2026 a flat €3 customs duty applies per item category in low-value parcels sent to EU consumers. IOSS for VAT still applies up to €150.
Do I need CBAM for steel products shipped from China to the EU?
If you import more than 50 tonnes a year in total of iron and steel, aluminium, cement or fertilisers, you need authorised CBAM declarant status before importing. Below that threshold there are no CBAM obligations.
Can you truck from China to Turkey through Iran?
Not as a standard service. As of November 2026, Iran is in an active conflict and under heavy sanctions, so any request involving Iranian transit is reviewed by our compliance team first.
Rules and rates change. This guide is general information checked against official sources on the date shown; our team confirms the details for your shipment.