The first batch of goods exported under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) convention departs from Yiwu on Feb 21. [Photo/Tide News]

A batch of over 10,000 items, including jewelry and eyewear, left for Moscow from Yiwu county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on Feb 21, under an international customs transit system known as Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR).

This marked Zhejiang's first export using the new "TIR + cross-border e-commerce" model, which not only signifies the expansion of Zhejiang's TIR cross-border road transport route but also establishes a new channel for cross-border e-commerce exports from Yiwu.

The TIR system is a global customs facilitation mechanism featuring efficient customs procedures, rapid transport turnover, flexibility, door-to-door delivery, and cost-effectiveness. The TIR convention has 77 contracting parties worldwide, with China joining in July 2016.

Ye Zhengyang, an official from Yiwu Customs, highlighted TIR's capability for door-to-door transport, eliminating the need for transshipment or unloading and reducing costs to be approximately four times cheaper than by air.

The 11,000-kilometer road transport to Moscow can be shortened to about 8 days, making it an attractive option for cross-border e-commerce exports from Yiwu, renowned as a global hub for small commodities and a favored destination for Russian markets.

To ensure the smooth customs clearance of the initial export, Yiwu Customs has implemented round-the-clock appointment services and established a collaborative mechanism with exit customs.