Wuhan's Iran-corridor departures rose sharply after ocean access to the Gulf was constrained, and it is now one of the main central-China terminals for the route. Cargo exits via Khorgos, crosses Kazakhstan, and enters through the Turkmen borders or the Caspian service, clearing at Aprin dry port in Tehran. Transit is 28–35 days door to door.
After the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, cargo moved off the ocean and onto land in volume, and China-Europe Railway Express traffic rose at the same time. Slots and wagons on the Iran lanes are short. Book three to four weeks earlier than usual and keep a buffer on the delivery date.
Wuhan sits on the Yangtze and the national rail grid, which makes it a natural consolidation point for central and east China, including cargo that reaches it by inland waterway. Its departures toward the Iran corridors grew as ocean space tightened. Cargo exits at Khorgos, crosses Kazakhstan, and enters Iran through Sarakhs, Incheh Borun, or the Aktau–Anzali Caspian service. Import clearance is at Aprin dry port in Tehran.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lane | Wuhan → Tehran (Aprin dry port), Iran |
| Corridors | Sarakhs / Incheh Borun / Aktau–Anzali Caspian service |
| Exit border | Khorgos (Alashankou by arrangement) |
| Transit | 28–35 days door to door (moves with the border queue) |
| Gauge changes | Standard to broad at China–Kazakhstan; broad to standard at Turkmen–Iran |
| Equipment | 20GP / 40GP / 40HQ; SOC containers on request |
| Clearance | Import customs clearance at Aprin dry port, Tehran. DAP or DDP |
| Origins served | Central and east China, plus cargo moved to Wuhan by inland waterway |
All rail through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, gauge change at Sarakhs, then via Mashhad to Tehran.
Sarakhs in detail →Entry through Akyayla (Etrek) and Incheh Borun, used to divert volume when Sarakhs queues.
Incheh Borun in detail →Rail to Aktau then the Caspian service to Anzali, and on to Tehran.
Caspian service in detail →| Cost item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Wuhan domestic leg | Pickup or river feed, stuffing and lashing, export declaration, terminal charges |
| Linehaul | Rail freight, transit charges and gauge-change handling |
| Sea leg | Only on the Caspian corridor: port handling and a ferry or liner slot |
| Container | COC hire, or SOC positioning and return |
| Iran | Clearance fee, duty and VAT, inspection, final delivery |
Send the origin, commodity, volume, equipment and delivery address; what comes back is a rate breakdown that can be executed that week.
Operating transit is 28–35 days door to door, moving with the departure schedule and the border queue.
When Gulf ocean services were restricted, a large share of former sea cargo moved to rail, and Wuhan added departures to carry it. It now works as a central-China terminal for the Iran corridors.
Yes — the Yangtze connection lets east-China cargo reach Wuhan by inland waterway and leave by rail, which often beats trucking it west.