When a standard overland shipping route from China to Europe was no longer viable due to trade restrictions, a global manufacturer of refrigeration equipment required an alternate solution for shipping from China to Europe. With production schedules in jeopardy, the logistics plan had to adapt quickly to meet compliance rules and transit-time targets.
What Happens When Sanctions Block Your Primary Transport Lane?
The customer, a multinational supplier of refrigeration and temperature control systems, operates production sites across China, the UK, Germany, and Hungary. Their supply chain depends on the timely delivery of parts between these regions.
The cargo had been moving from China to Europe via Russia. However, Russian sanctions rendered traditional Europe-bound rail and road routes unavailable. An alternative was needed to avoid the sanctioned lane while still meeting the customer’s 40-day delivery timeline.
Overland TIR Route Supports Sanctions-Compliant Delivery
Air freight and ocean freight were both considered but posed cost or time limitations. After assessing shipment characteristics, urgency, and border policies, a road-based solution was selected under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) system, a global customs transit framework that allows goods to move across borders with fewer checks and reduced delays.
The southern corridor route, operating under the TIR Convention, provided a flexible and compliant China to Europe shipping option. The shipment traveled through:
- China
- Kazakhstan (via Port of Aktau)
- Caspian Sea (ferry to Baku, Azerbaijan)
- Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania
- Final delivery in Hungary
Compared to routes passing through Russia, this alternative offered:
- A geopolitically stable path that avoided conflict zones
- Shorter distance on specific segments
- Access to Belt and Road infrastructure across Central Asia and the Caucasus
Managing Complex Overland Transit Across Borders
The overland route required coordinated handling across multiple countries, ports, and customs checkpoints. Dimerco deployed a team to manage:
- Factory pickup and domestic transit to the Xinjiang border
- Export clearance and customs documentation
- Ferry coordination across the Caspian Sea
- Transit alignment across each border through to Hungary
The Caspian Sea leg posed potential delays due to ferry capacity and weather. To manage this:
- Sailing schedules were monitored in real time
- Port resources were pre-arranged
- Vehicles were prioritized for fast boarding, reducing wait times
Exceeding Expectations with Early, Compliant Delivery
The shipment departed the factory on November 15 and reached the Xinjiang border within three days. It cleared export on November 23 and arrived in Budapest on December 16.
The total transit time was 31 days, arriving nine days ahead of the customer’s target.
By avoiding transshipment and ensuring seamless overland coordination, the cargo arrived safely, on time, and fully compliant.
This case highlights the feasibility of the southern China to Europe route for shipments affected by sanctions. It demonstrates how alternate lanes can be activated without compromising delivery time or cargo integrity, particularly for sensitive or high-priority industrial components.
Need a Secure Solution for Shipping from China to Europe?
When traditional lanes are blocked by policy or geopolitical risk, Dimerco designs compliant, cross border shipping alternatives tailored to your requirements.
Get in touch with a Dimerco specialist to learn how we can help you navigate complexity in global transport.
