Afghanistan-Turkey | Lapis Lazuli Corridor Connecting Afghanistan to Turkey Direct to Europe

LHZ-TIR Afghanistan Turkey Corridor is a TIR truck transport service system under LHZ, utilizing the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Caspian-Caucasus route to Turkey. Its brand positioning is a TIR trucking emergency channel when railway capacity is tight, providing direct delivery from China via the Lapis Lazuli Corridor to Turkey and radiating into the European market 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.

Lapis Lazuli Corridor: Strategic Land Route from Afghanistan to Turkey

The Lapis Lazuli Corridor is a strategic multimodal transport route connecting Afghanistan to Turkey and Europe, signed in 2017 by five countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, with a project budget of approximately $2 billion. The corridor is named after lapis lazuli, one of the major commodities exported from Central Asia to the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa in ancient times, symbolizing the historical heritage of this modern trade route.

The corridor route: From Aqina in Afghanistan's northern Faryab Province and Torghundi in western Herat Province, crossing Turkmenistan, via the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi to Baku, Azerbaijan, then through Tbilisi, Georgia to Turkey, eventually integrating into European highway and railway networks. The corridor essentially extends the China-Central Asia-Caspian Middle Corridor to Afghanistan, enabling Kabul to participate in trans-Caspian shipping and divert some export cargo from Pakistan or Iran to the South Caucasus and Turkey.

Although the first test transport in 2021 was suspended due to political changes in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey are actively promoting the corridor's revival and expansion. Azerbaijan has invested approximately $1 billion in two key elements of the project: Baku's Alat Port and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. Turkmenistan has built the Atamurat-Imamnazar-Aqina railway and is modernizing Turkmenbashi Port.

Afghanistan-Turkmenistan Border Hub: Torghundi Port Development and Upgrades

In July 2025, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan signed a $5 million contract for joint development and investment in the expansion of Torghundi Port in Afghanistan's western Herat Province, including the design, construction, and commissioning of warehousing and logistics facilities at the dry port, funded by Turkmenistan. Torghundi Port is a core node of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, where Chinese cargo arriving via TIR trucks is transloaded or connected to railways for entry into the Caspian-Caucasus-Turkey corridor via Turkmenistan.

Switch from Railway to TIR Trucking: China to Turkey via Afghanistan Lapis Lazuli Corridor

China to Turkey TIR trucking route via the Lapis Lazuli Corridor: Door-to-door pickup across China → Depart via Xinjiang Khorgos or Kashgar Port → Kazakhstan or Pakistan → Afghanistan (Torkham or Herat) → Torghundi Port (transloading) → Turkmenistan → Caspian Sea (Turkmenbashi Port or Baku Port) → Azerbaijan → Georgia → Turkey → Europe. 15-18 days, with destination import customs clearance included.

TIR sealed transport throughout, direct to Turkey and Europe via the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, with no multiple transloading required throughout the journey, independent of railway wagon plan restrictions, with shipment available whenever cargo is ready.

Afghanistan-Turkey-Europe Trade Potential

Afghanistan-EU trade continues to grow. In 2025, Afghanistan's exports to the EU reached $24.24 million, showing significant growth compared to 2024. Major trading partners include Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and others. Afghan products have strong demand in the European market, but logistics corridor bottlenecks remain the primary constraint. In 2024, the EU was Afghanistan's seventh largest trading partner.

The opening of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor will significantly shorten transport distances from South Asia to the Caucasus and Europe, facilitating Afghan and Central Asian cargo entering the European market via Turkey. Azerbaijan is actively promoting the inclusion of Afghanistan in the Middle Corridor. During the ECO Summit in July 2025, Afghanistan's Deputy Prime Minister visited Baku International Sea Port, with discussions on expanding freight scope on the South Asia-Caucasus-Europe route.

Distribution Network via Turkey to Europe

Upon arrival in Turkey, cargo is rapidly distributed via Turkey's road network to all destinations across Europe. Turkey serves as a core node of the Eurasian land bridge, connecting European, Balkan, Caucasus, and Middle Eastern markets. Covered countries include Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, extending via Turkey to Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and all of Europe.

Complete Vehicle Car-Carrier Transport Solution

China to Afghanistan TIR Trucking Turkey Direction 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 Afghanistan.

Iran-plated car-carrier trailers (270 units): After transloading at Nur Zhol Port, they arrive directly in Iran, enter Afghanistan via the Iran-Afghanistan border, and connect to the Lapis Lazuli Corridor to Turkey and Europe.

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-Afghanistan) plus Iran-plated car-carrier trailers (Afghanistan-Lapis Lazuli Corridor-Turkey and Europe).

Coverage 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 Turkey and all European destinations, with real-time GPS tracking and transport insurance.

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.